14
M4T4
Class _-El4= —
MEMORIALS OF MARSHFIELD
GUIDE BOOK TO ITS LOCALITIES
GREEN HARBOR
BY MARCIA A. THOMAS.
" Green are their bays, and greener still
Shall round their spreading- fame be wreathed;
And regions now untrod shall thrill
With reverence, when their names are breathed."
W. C. Bryant.
BOSTON:
PRINTED BY DUTTON AND WENTWORTH,
No. 37, Congress Street.
18 54.
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the Year 1854,
By Marcia A. Thomas,
In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts.
THIS
MEMORIAL OF THEIR ANCESTRY
IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED
TO THE
DESCENDANTS OF THE EARLY SETTLERS
QUEEN HARBOR,
COMPILER
P HE FACE.
The following Memorials do not claim to be a systematic His-
tory of Marshfield, but are mere sketches of some of its localities
and early families. They are prepared for the united purpose of
perpetuating their memories and preserving their names in the
hallowed place of their sepulchres. Though the information pre-
sented has been collected with much care and labor, and with an
antiquarian taste, yet the compiler appears in print with much dif-
fidence, it being her first effort of the kind, and her time for its
compilation limited, amid o f her cares, to a few weeks. She begs
her friends and the public will look with favorable indulgence
upon her little offering. The materials from which she has
drawn, are ample for a larger volume, and she has found it no
easy task to select and abridge, to make a work, which it seemed
to her the occasion demanded. Errors may have occurred in the
selection and arrangement, but she trusts the credit may yet be
awarded her of a sincere desire to do the right thing from right
motives.
To those authors from whom she has made selections, and to
those who have generously aided her by their labors or otherwise,
she feels under great obligations. Her best thanks are hereby
offered to Mrs. Sigourney of Hartford, and Miss Caulkins of New
London, Conn., for their beautiful poetical contributions to her
work ; and for the gratuitous use of plates, to Messrs. Little,
Brown & Co., and James W. Paige, Esq., for that of the Webster
Mansion ; to Mr. Samuel G. Drake, for that of Josiah Winslow ;
and to Mr. William S. Russell of Plymouth, for that of the
Peregrine White apple tree ; and to Messrs. C. S. Francis & Co.,
of New York, for that of the ancient Winslow House.
Marshfield, August 1, 1854.
CONTENTS.
Burying Hill and Surrounding Localities, . Page 8
Family Sketches, ....... 13
Pastors of the First Church, 13 ; Winslow, 17 ; White,
31 ; Adams, 36 ; Vassall, 37 ; Bourn, 38 ; Waterman, 40 ;
Snow, 41 ; Beadle or Biddle, 42 ; Branch, 42 ; Winter
and Hewet, 43 ; Goram, Gorum, [Gorham,] 44 ; Rouse,
46 ; Bompasse, Bumpus, Bump, 48 ; Pitney, 48 ; Lyn-
dall, Lindall, 49 ; Holmes, 50 ; Dingley, 52 ; Carver, 52 ;
Thomas, 53 ; Sampson, 71 ; Somers, 71 ; Foord, Ford,
73 ; Baker, 74 ; Williamson, 75 ; Howland, 75 ; Foster,
76 ; Walker, 77 ; Low, 77 ; Chillingsworth or Chilling-
worth, 77 ; Sprague, 78 ; Hall, 80 ; Stevens, 81 ; Dogget,
Doggett, 81 ; Keene, Kein, Keen, 82 ; Shearman, Sher-
man, 83 ; Phillips, 83 ; Shettle, Shirtley, Shurtleff, 84 ;
Little, 85 ; John Jones, 87 ; Chapman, 87 ; Webster, 88.
Peregrine White, — A Poem, by L. H. Sigourney, . . 34
The Marshfield Graves, — A Poem, by F. M. Caulkins, 89
Burying Hill, — Inscriptions and Memorials of Interments, 92
BURYING HILL
SURROUNDING LOCALITIES
'•'Forget not all their sufferings,
Their sorrows and their prayers ;
This hard won heritage is ours,
The perils all were theirs."
The Ancient Burying Hill, successively of Green
Harbor, Rexham and Marshfield, is situated in sol-
emn seclusion, in the southeasterly part of this
Pilgrim settled township. There is no record pre-
served of the time when it was set apart as a place
of sepulture. The oldest memorial stone, now fallen
into fragments, is that of William Thomas, Esq.,
within the limits of whose grant this cemetery was
located.
One half a mile southerly, environed with a variety
of rural beauties, rises the mansion house of the la-
mented statesman, the late Hon. Daniel Webster, be-
yond which is a ridge of broken highlands, on the
summit of which our fathers lit their beacon fires,
"in case of alarm from the Indian enemy." Through
an intervening valley a glimpse is caught of the blue
waters of the bay where the ev6r< memorable May-
flower cast its anchor, and on a solitary rock, still sa-
cred to their name, landed its pilgrim passengers, the
germ of this great republic.
1*
8 MEMORIALS OF MARSHFIELD.
From the southwest, Green Harbor River winds
its serpentine way through an intervale of meadow
land, and passing this hallowed hill near its northern
base, one mile easterly therefrom, mingles its waters
with the mighty ocean.
Over this river, with a background formed of the
unfading green of the native forests, the eye falls on
an extensive range of farms which the founders of
our "rustic" homes reclaimed from a mazy and
savage-trod wilderness. Reflecting on their sacrifi-
ces and sufferings we are led to say with the poet
" We have no title-deed to house or lands ;
Owners and occupants of earlier date
From graves forgotten stretch their dusty hands,
And hold in mortmain still their old estates."
H. W. Longfellow.
In the semicircle before named the eye embraces in
the distance the ancestral lands of Clement King,
Richard French, James Pitney, Samuel Baker, John
Adams, William Ford, Philip Leonard, Wm. Haile,
Luke LUJy, Timothy Williamson, Roger Cook, Wm.
Hollo way, John Russell, John Walker, Arthur How-
land, Thomas Chillingworth, Edmund Hawes, Dan-
iel Cole, William Sherman and Peregrine White.
Within these, and nearer this consecrated spot, are
the ancient estates of James Lindall, William Holmes,
Robert Carver, John Dingley, Rev. Edward Bulkley,
John Somers, Anthony Snow, Thomas Bourn, Ken-
elm Winslow, Josias Winslow, Robert Waterman and
Joseph Beadle. From the last named estate, situated
at the northeast point of the cultivated lands within
BURYING HILL. 9
the bounds of vision, extends Marshfield Beach on
the east to the mouth of Green Harbor River.
Near the southeast extremity of this beach are
two tracts of upland, early called " Governors and
Branch's Islands." The last was the abode of John
Branch, while on the first resided Mr. John Bradford,
eldest son of Gov. William Bradford, previous to his
removal to Norwich, Conn., between 1660-64 of
which place he was one of the thirty-five pur-
chasers.
Crossing Green Harbor River, from the southern
banks thereof extends the estate granted to Gov.
Edward Winslow, styled the founder of Marshfield.
Narrowing the vision to the vicinage around this
last resting place of our fathers, we view the ancient
estate of William Thomas, Esq. Mingled on its
surface in a pleasing variety are hills, valleys, wood-
lands, meadows and streams, now rich with the
charms of the experimental cultivation of the late
" Marshfield Farmer."
Between these old domains of Edward Winslow
and William Thomas nestled the homestead of John
Thomas, while the homes of Edward Bumpus, one
of the forefathers, and that of John Rouse, dotted
the valleys interspersed amid the southern hills.
Passing northerly, by the lawns of Careswell, we
again find the fields swelling into steeplands, on the
summit of which stands a flagstaff given by the
Hon. Abbott Lawrence, of Boston. From this, on
festal occasions, float the stars and stripes of the
10 MEMORIALS OF MARSHFIELD.
American Union. Near a hill of this range, yet
bearing his name, was the early colonial residence
of Capt. John Gorham, who sacrificed his life in
defence of the forest homes of our fathers.
Separated by a dale, from the westerly side of the
Gorham range rises another acclivity, called Cherry
Hill, memorable from the fact that Mr. Webster
addressed from thence, for the last time, a public
assemblage, on July 24th, 1852. He had been
escorted from the railroad station at Kingston, by a
committee of arrangements and other citizens of the
neighborhood in carriages, with a cavalcade of young
men, most of them doubtless of Pilgrim descent.
Mr. Webster and the Hon. Seth Sprague of Dux-
bury, were seated in a barouche, drawn by six grey
horses, driven by Jacob Sprague, "Esq." His ad-
dress on that occasion tells in his own language of
his associations with the people of Green Harbor
and vicinity, from which we offer the following
extracts : —
" Friends and neighbors, it is now about twenty years that I
have been in the midst of you, passing- here on the side of. the sea,
in your vicinity and presence, that portion of every year which I
have been able to enjoy from the labors of my profession and the
cares of public life. Happy have they been to me and mine, for,
during all that period, I know not of one unkind thing done, or
an unkind word spoken to me, or those that are near and dear to
me. Gentlemen I consider this a personal kindness, a tribute of
individual regard. I have lived among you with the greatest
pleasure and satisfaction. I deem it a great piece of good fortune
that, coming from the mountains, desirous of having a summer
residence on the sea coast, I came where I did and when I did.
BURYING HILL. 11
Many, when they come down through these pine woods and over
these sandy hills to see us, wonder what drew Mr. Webster to
Marshfield. Why gentlemen, I tell them it was partly good sense,
but more good fortune. I had got a pleasant spot, I had lands about
me diversified, my fortune was to fall into a kind neighborhood
among men with whom I never had any difficulty, with whom I had
entered into a sort of a well understood covenant, that I would
talk with them on farming and fishing and of neighborhood con-
cerns, but I would never speak a word to them or they to me, on
law or politics. They have kept their side of the bargain and I
have kept mine.
Friends and neighbors, the time in which you offer me this
welcome is not inappropriate. I am not much longer to be
away from you for any purpose connected with public life or
public duty. The place which I now occupy in the councils of
the nation must of course ere long be vacated by me, and may
be vacated very shortly.
There is an end to all human labors and all human efforts. I am
no longer a young man. I am thankful that I have a good degree
of health and strength, and hope to enjoy your neighborhood and
kindness and the pleasure of seeing you often, for some years to
come, if such may be the pleasure of the Almighty.
Accept gentlemen; from the depth of my affection for you all,
my warm acknowledgments that you come here with countenances
so open and frank to give me this assurance of your regard ; I
return it with all my heart, I say again, my prayers are that the
Almighty Power above may preserve you and yours, and every-
thing that is near and dear to you, in prosperity and happiness."
Returning from, we trust, not an unwelcome
digression, we will now pass beyond the wooded
highlands which bound our vision on the north and
west. There spread the broad acres of the "North
River men," so called, from their settling on the
southern borders of that river, which is the division
line between Marshfield and Scituate. We find the
12 MEMORIALS OF MARSHFIELD.
following names among these settlers, for the first
half a century after the incorporation of the town-
ship, some leaving and others filling their places
during that period, viz. : Barker, Besbeech, Brooks,
Byram, Bangs, Bosworth, Beare, Brown, Bruff, Bar-
den, Cushing, Eames, Hincksman. Latham, Mendall,
Macall, Joice, Perry, Rogers, Sylvester and Taylor.
Lying between Green Harbor and North Rivers
were many miles of" dense forest land, and although
the respective settlers in each locality assembled to-
gether in meetings for public business, and perhaps
also, some of them for public worship, they do not
appear to have been in habits of intimate association.
Within this section many carried their children to
the second church in Scituate for baptism, which
was near, on the opposite side of North River, over
which was then a ferry place.
As we wend our way downward with this river
to the sea, the distance from Green Harbor is less-
ened ; this locality is now called East Marshfield.
Here dwelt William Macomber, Morris Truant,
Thomas Little, Francis Crooker, Richard Childs,
John Sawyer, Edward Stevens, John Jones, Ralph
Chapman, William Norcutt, Jeremiah Boroughs,
Thomas Howell, Thomas Tilden, John Phillips,
William ShurtlerT, John Strowbridge, and Mr. Ralph
Powell.
On the present westerly bounds of the township
is a tract of fertile land, two miles in length and
one in breadth, called the Two Miles. This was
FAMILY SKETCHES. 13
granted to Scituate 1640. and in 1788 annexed to
Marshfield. It was settled by Richard Sylvester,
Robert Sproat, Thomas Rose, and the descendants
of Walter, son of Elder William Hatch of Scituate ;
Elder Hatch was from Kent County, England. He,
with his family, were passengers in the good ship
Hercules, 1635. Walter m. Elizabeth Holbrook of
Weymouth, 1650, and had Hannah, b. 1651; Sam-
uel, b. 1653 ; Jane, b. 1655 ; Antipes, b. 1658 ; and
Bethiah, 1661. Many descendants, bearing the fam-
ily name, are residents of the Two Miles. Luther
Hatch, Esq., long the respected Town Clerk of
Marshfield, is a descendant of Elder William Hatch
and his son Walter.
FAMILY SKETCHES.
" It is wise for us to recur to the history of our ancestors. Those who do
not look upon themselves as a link connecting the Past with the Future, do
not perform their duty to the world. 7 ' Daniel Webster.
PASTORS OF THE FIRST CHURCH.
It is inferred from olden records, with the fact of
his being an early resident at Green Harbor, that
Nehemiah Smyth was, perhaps, the first religious
teacher of its early settlers. It is believed also, that
Governor Edward Winslow might have occasionally
officiated in that office. There was, however, no
regular pastor until the Rev. Richard Blinman, a
2
14 MEMORIALS OF MARSHFIELD.
Welch gentleman, removed thither, about 1642. He
was accompanied by Mr. Thomas and a number of
other " emigrants, from beyond the Wye."
Dissensions taking place, Mr. Blinman and most
of his countrymen soon removed to Gloucester, and
from thence, 1648-50, to New London. In 1658
he is at New Haven, from whence he returned by
the way of Newfoundland, to Bristol, England,
where he deceased, at an advanced age.
Soon after the removal of Mr. Blinman from
Marshfield, the Rev. Edward Bulkely, son of the
Rev. Peter Bulkely of Concord, was ordained pastor.
He appears to have held an estate independent of
the " minister's land," so called. His dwelling-
house stood not far from the site of the south dis-
trict schoolhouse. His father dying, 1659, he suc-
ceeded him as pastor of the church at Concord. His
children were, John, who deceased at Marshfield,
1655; " Jane, who m. Ephraim Flint, and Elizabeth,
who m. the Rev. Joseph Emerson."
" Tradition represents Mr. Bulkely as a man of
a feeble constitution ; he died while on a visit at
Chelmsford, 1696, and was buried at Concord. He
was greatly respected for his talents, acquirements,
irreproachable character, and piety." — Shattuck's
History of Concord.
Mr. Bulkely was succeeded in the pastoral office,
by the Rev. Samuel Arnold of Yarmouth, in 1657.
He deceased, 3 Sept., 1693, after a ministry of 39
years. His wife was Elizabeth ; they had Samuel,
FAMILY SKETCHES. 15
born at Yarmouth, 1649; he, with a number of
others, from Marshfield and Duxbury, were original
proprietors of Rochester, Mass., over which people
he was ordained pastor, 1684. They had also Seth,
from whom the present families of the name, resi-
dent on the borders of Duxbury, descended ; and
Elizabeth, the wife of Abraham Holmes.
Edward Tompson, son of Deacon and grandson
of the Rev. William Tompson of Braintree, was
ordained fourth pastor of the Marshfield church, 14
Oct., 1696. He preached the sermon at his own
ordination, from Isai. c. ix, 10. He had, after 1690,
been teacher of the church at Newbury, and also a
teacher of youth. He suddenly deceased, 16 March,
1704-^5, aged 40. The following is extracted from a
tribute to his character signed by the clergymen of
his Association : —
" No minister could wish to leave behind him a more excellent
character than is testified of Mr. Tompson, by those who knew
him best. In conversation being holy, humble, meek, patient,
sober, temperate, blameless, diligent, useful, and going about
doing good ; so living desired, and dying lamented."
The wife of Mr. Tompson was Sarah. Their
children, born at Newbury, were Samuel, 1690, H.
C. 1710, ordained at Gloucester, 1716, d. 1724;
Edward, b. 1695, and perhaps others. They had at
Marshfield, William, b. 1697; John, b. 1699; and
Joseph, b. 1703-4.
It is believed that Mr. Tompson's family returned
to Newbury. The following marriages are from the
16 MEMORIALS OF MARSHFIELD.
records of that place, and probably were the chil-
dren of Edward Tornpson, as we learn from the his-
torian of that town that no other family of that
name were residents thereof till after the time of
their occurrence.
" Isaac Thomas of Marshfield and Ann Tornpson
of Newbury, m. 25 Oct., 1711.
Percival Clark and Sarah Tornpson, jun., m. 26
March, 1713.
Stephen Longfellow and Abigail Tornpson, m. 25
March, 1714.
Richard Pettingell, jun., and Elizabeth Tornpson,
m. 2 Aug., 1716.
Joseph Tornpson and Prise ilia Noyes, m. 7 Nov..
1727."
Mr. Tornpson was succeeded in the ministry at
Marshfield, by the Rev. James Gardner, a native of
Scotland, who, it is inferred, was a merchant in
Marshfield, previously. He was ordained, 14 May,
1707, and deceased, 14 Sept., 1739. His wife was
Mary. Their children were, Jane, b. 1708; Mary, b.
1710-11, m. Rev. Benjamin Bass of Hanover, 1729;
Thomas, b. 1713; Elizabeth, b. 1715-16, m. Nathaniel
Thomas; Deborah, b. 1719, m. Michael Samson of
Kingston, 1739; Dorothy, b. 1721-22; James, b.
1724; and Lucy, b. 1729, deceased in the summer
of 1739.
The succeeding pastors of the first church, were,
Samuel Hill, Maiden, II. C. 1735, from 1740 to
1752; Joseph Green, Barnstable, H. C. 1746, from
FAMILY SKETCHES. 17
1753 to 1759; Thomas Brown, H. C. 1752, from
1759 to 1763; William Shaw, D. D., Bridgewater,
H. C. 1762, from 1766 to 1816 ; Martin Parris,
Pembroke, B. U., from 1817 to 1838; Seneca White,
Sutton, D. C. 1818, from 1838 to 1850; Ebenezer
Alden, Randolph, A. C. 1839, installed 1850— the
present pastor. He is descended from the Pilgrim
John Alden ; his wife is Maria Louisa, dau. of Chris-
topher Dyer, Esq., of Abington, and a descendant of
the May Flower Pilgrims, William and Susanna
White, through their son Peregrine White and his
eldest dau. Sarah, wife of Thomas Young, &c, &c.
WINSLOW.
Mr. Edward Winslow was eldest son of Edward
Winslow, Esq., and his wife Magdelen, of Droit-
witch, Worcestershire, England. He joined the Pil-
grims at Leyden, with his wife Elizabeth, who
deceased, 24 March, 1621. On the 24th of the fol-
lowing May he was united in marriage to Susanna,
widow of Mr. William White ; Mrs. Winslow thus
became the first bride, having previously been the
first mother, among the first colonists of New Eng-
land.
Mr. Winslow was the third signer of the celebrated
compact subscribed in the cabin of the May Flower,
11 Nov., 1620. "An instrument establishing a prin-
ciple which is the foundation of all the democratic
institutions of America."
2*
18 MEMORIALS OF MARSHFIELD.
He removed to his estate at Green Harbor,
1636-37. On this he had erected a handsome resi-
dence, which, with the whole domain, was called
Careswell, after a seat of his ancestors in England.
He had occasionally sojourned at Green Harbor,
after 1632. Gov. Winslow was a man of extensive
usefulness in the colony, being agent for the same
at the court of England, in 1623, 1624, 1635, 1644,
and 1646. On his return, in 1624, he brought over
the broad Atlantic the first neat cattle that grazed
about the New England homes of our Pilgrim sires.
On his last named embassy to his native land, in
1646, being in high estimation at the court of the
Protector, he was invited to enter his service, and
was appointed First Commissioner of the Common-
wealth, to superintend the expedition sent to the
Spanish West Indies.
On this service, by more than ordinary fatigue,
the fever of the climate was induced, of which he
deceased, on shipboard, 8 May, 1655, aged 59 years
6 months and 18 days. His remains were consigned
to the deep waters of the ocean, with the honors of
war. His widow Susanna, it appears from the frag-
ment of an entry in the town records, survived him
until October, 1680.
The whole early history of our country bears am-
ple testimony to the excellence of the character of
Gov. Winslow. His children, Edward and John,
named at the "division of cattle, 1627," deceased,
doubtless, in early life. His son Josiah was born
uJfv 4A) ) Tnxiji
i-X22&^>
,:...: . .
FAMILY SKETCHES. 19
1629, and subsequently he had a dau. named Eliza-
beth, m. firstly, to Gilbert or Robert Brooks, and
secondly, 1669, to Capt. George Corwin of Salem.
George and Elizabeth Corwin had Penelope, b.
1670, m. Josiah Walcott, 1676 ; and Susanna, b.
1682, m. to Edward Lynde and Benjamin Wads-
worth.
Josiah, son of Gov. Edward and Susanna (White)
Winslow, m. 1651, Penelope Pelham, dau. of Her-
bert Pelham, Esq., who was of Massachusetts Col-
ony, from 1645 to 1650. Their children were, Eliz-
abeth, b. 1664, m. Stephen Burton, 1684; Edward,
b. 1667, died early ; and Isaac, b. 1670.
Josiah Winslow, son of Gov. Edward Winslow,
was the first native-born Governor of the Old Col-
ony, to which office he was elected annually from
1673 to his decease. This included the calamitous
period of Philip's war. In a letter, written by him,
under date 1 May, 1676, he says, " I think I can
clearly say, that before these present troubles broke
out, the English did not possess one foot of land in
this colony but what was fairly obtained by honest
purchase of the Indian proprietors. We first made a
law that none should purchase, or receive by gift,
any land of the Indians, without the knowledge of
our court ; and lest they should be straitened, we
ordered that Mount Hope, Pocasset, and several
other necks of the best land in the colony, because
most suitable and convenient for them, should never
be bought out of their hands."
20 MEMORIALS OF MARSHFIELD.
In this war with King Philip, Gov. Winslow was
eminently serviceable. He commanded the English
army in the great swamp fight, 1676. His health,
habitually feeble, was much impaired by the fatigues
of this expedition ; and he was afterwards excused
from again going forth to war. In a letter written
by him to Gov. Leveret, July 26, 1675, he thus ex-
presses himself :
"My person has been much threatened; I have
twenty men about my house ; have sent away my
wife and children to Salem ; have flankered my
house, and resolve to maintain it so long as a man
will stand by me." This house was built by his
father, Gov. Edward Winslow, to which additions
had been made. It stood a little easterly from the
present mansion, erected about 1700 by Isaac Wins-
low, Esq. Two depressions in the surface of the
earth, distinctly visible, denote the exact location of
the cellars of this fortified and celebrated residence.
At an angle in the fence near by stood the sentry-
house, or watch-tower, and a short distance, south-
erly, is Long Tom Pond, which derived its name
from the circumstance of an Indian spy, bearing that
name, being shot, hid in an evergreen tree, which
grew on its borders.
Here was the Indian Chief Alexander, son of the
kind-hearted Massasoit, attacked by the fever which
terminated his earthly existence. He had been con-
ducted from Manponset Pond, by Maj. Winslow,
Maj. Bradford, and others, to Mr. Collier's, at Dux-
FAMILY SKETCHES. 21
bury, for the purpose of treating on mutual colonial
difficulties. " The few magistrates who were at
hand, issued the matter peaceably, and dismissed
Alexander" on his way to his own forests. In two
or three days he came to Careswell, intending to
travel by the bay homeward. It is supposed the
wound his sensitive spirit had received induced the
physical disease abovenamed. The medical aid of
Dr. Fuller was called in, to which was added the
tenderest nursing, but he longed to be at his moun-
tain-home, and was conveyed by water to Maj.
Bradford's, thence on the shoulders of his men to
Tetiquit River, and thence in canoes to Mount
Hope, where, in a few days, he passed to the Great
Spirit land.
This is the substance of Maj. Bradford's statement
to the Rev. Mr. Cotton of Plymouth, respecting the
sickness and death of Alexander, and is, doubtless,
more authentic than the account thereof by Dr. I.
Mather of Massachusetts Colony. Would that we
could erase on the pages of the Old Colony's history,
the fact that his innocent nephew, son of Philip, and
grandson of Massasoit, the true friend of our exiled
fathers, was sold by their ungrateful successors into
slavery.
" Wo ! for the red man's wail
Sweeps o'.cr New England's hills 3
It rides her haughty ocean gale,
And tones her forest rills 5
One jarring echo in those grand old strains
That ne'er can die along her hallowed plains."
Mrs. Cass.
22 MEMORIALS OF MARSHFIELD.
Gov. Josiah Winslow reached every elevation, at-
tainable, both civil and military, in his native col-
ony, and in history he stands preeminent for the
tolerance of his spirit, the mildness and courtesy of
his manners, and the hospitality of his home. " He
deceased at Careswell, 18 Dec, 1680, and was bur-
ied on the 23d, at the colony's expense, in testi-
mony of its endeared love and affection for him."
His widow, Penelope Pelham, survived him 23 years,
having deceased, 7 Dec, 1703. In person she was
strikingly beautiful. A portrait of her, taken in
early life, is in preservation.
Isaac Winslow, Esq., was the only son who ar-
rived at manhood, of Gov. Josiah Winslow. He m.
Sarah, d. of John and Elizabeth (Paddy) Wensley
of Boston, 11 July, 1700. She was a descendant of
Gov. Prince, his d. Rebecca, who m. Edmund Free-
man, being her great-grandmother.
Their children were Josiah, b. 1701, H. C. 1721.
He was killed by the Indians, in the memorable
battle at St. George's River, Maine, 1 May, 1724.
The preceding day opened with a beautiful morning
and Capt. Winslow, commander of the fort, with 16
men in two whale boats proceeded down to the
Green Islands in Penobscot Bay, a place of resort of
the Indians for fishing and fowling. They did not
on that day however, meet with any of these sons
of the forests. " On the following, while ascending
the river, they fell into a fatal ambush of these red
men cowering under its banks. They permitted
FAMILY SKETCHES. 23
Winslow to pass and fired into the other boat com-
manded by Harvey, which was nearer the shore.
Harvey fell. Winslow observing the exposure of his
companions, though out of danger himself, hastened
back to their assistance. In an instant he was
surrounded by thirty canoes, filled with threefold
that number of armed savages. They made a deter-
mined and gallant defence, and when nearly all his
comrades had fallen, extremely exhausted and with
a fractured thigh, his shattered bark was set to the
shore; waylaid here, he fought a savage hand to hand,
then resting on his knee shot one ere they could finish
their death work on him. Thus fell, in the morning
of his life, this son of Green Harbor, the intrepid
Winslow, and all his brave companions except three
friendly Indians who were permitted to live to tell
the sad tale. Isaac and Sarah Winslow had also,
John, b. 1702, m. Mary Little ; Penelope, b. 1704,
m. James Warren, 1724; Elizabeth, b. 1707, m.
Benjamin Marston of Salem, 1729 ; Anna, b. 1709,
died at Boston, 1723; Edward, b. 1714, m. Mrs.
Hannah Dyer and resided at Plymouth ; he being a
loyalist removed to Halifax, N. S., early in the
American Revolution, where he died, 1784, aged 72.
His posterity have enjoyed high official distinctions
in that Province.
The Hon. Isaac Winslow, like his ancestors, was a
distinguished military character, Justice of the Court
of Common Pleas and Judge of Probate. He de-
ceased, at the seat erected by himself, December,
1738. "He was much given to hospitality and
24 MEMORIALS OF MARSHFIELD.
universally beloved." His widow, Mrs. Sarah Wins-
low, d. 1753, aged 80.
John, his eldest surviving son, succeeded to the
Careswell estate; he m. Mary, dau. of Capt. Isaac
Little, of Pembroke, 1725. In military affairs, at
least, he followed in the footsteps of his fathers.
He was Colonel in the expedition to Nova Scotia,
1755, and Commander in Chief at Fort William
Henry, on Lake Erie, 1756. His children were,
Pelham, b. 1737, m. Joanna White, — he was in the
royal interest, at the commencement of the revolu-
tionary struggle and resorted to the British for pro-
tection, — he died on Long Island, 1776 ; Isaac b.
1739, m. Elizabeth, dau. of the elder Dr. Stockbridge
of Scituate, 176S, and secondly, Fanny Gay of
Hingham, — he was a distinguished physician in his
native town, where he deceased 1819, aged 80, and
was the last of the name who permanently resided
at the Careswell mansion, — his grandson, Isaac Wins-
low of Boston, is the only adult male descendant
of the name, of this branch of the Winslow family
in New England. Gen. Winslow deceased at Hing-
ham, where he m. secondly, a widow Johnson,
1774; entombed at Marshfield.
As the name of Col. John Winslow is associated
with the removal of the Acadians from Nova Scotia,
and as enquires are often made respecting this lam-
entable outrage on an innocent people, we subjoin,
for the information of such, a few extracts respecting
the same, from standard historical works : —
FAMILY SKETCHES. 25
" Nova Scotia, under the name of Acadia," was originally set-
tled by the French. In 1713 it was ceded to Great Biitain, when
many of the French inhabitants removed to Canada. Those who
chose to remain were permitted to retain their possessions
and allowed " Freedom to worship God" according to their own
religious belief, upon taking an oath of allegiance to the King of
Great Britian, with an understanding that they were not to be
requested to bear arms against the French or Indians. This
acquired them the name of French neutrals. After the com-
mencement of the settlement of Halifax, 1749, the Governor
required them to take the oath of allegiance again, witnout any
of the previous qualifications. This they objected to, as contrary
to the conditions upon which their fathers agreed to settle under
the British Government, saying, should they undertake to aid in
suppressing the Indians the savages would pursue them with unre-
lenting hostility, and that to bear arms against their courtry was
repugnant to the feelings of human nature. They therefore
requested to know if they might have permission to sell their
lands and effects. They were told in reply, " That by the treaty
of Utrecht, one year was allowed them for disposing of their
property, which period having elapsed they could neiiher part
with their effects nor leave the province." As a preparatory
measure they were disarmed, their records, title-deeds and other
papers taken from them, and after the Massachusetts troops under
Col. Winslow had taken Beau Segour, &c, the provincial gov-
verment secretly resolved to remove the whole body of the
neutrals from the country.
The reasons offered in justification of this cruel and unjust
measure, were, that the Acadians had refused to take the oath of
allegiance without the qualification above named, and that they
had furnished the French and Indians intelligence, quarters, &c.
The execution of this resolution was confided to Col. Winslow.
He issued a proclamation requiring the French inhabitants in the
various settlements to appear at several specified places on the same
day. One portion was to assemble in the Church, at Grand Pre,
Sept. 5th, 1755, at 3 P. M. In accordance with this summons,
four hundred and eighteen able bodied men entered the church at
3
26 MEMORIALS OF MARSHFIELD.
the appointed time and the doors were shut. The colonel then
addressed them : — " That the duty he was then upon was very
disagreeable to his make and temper, as he knew it must be griev-
ous to them, &c. It was not however for him to animadvert, but
to obey his orders," and he proceeded to inform them that " their
lands and tenements, cattle of all kinds and live stock of all
sorts, were forfeited to the crown, with all their other effects saving
their money and household goods and that they were to be re-
moved fiom the province."
The whole number who were entrapped in this way at
Grand Pre, and other places, with those who were hunted and
taken from their hiding places in the depths of the forests, were
7,000. The sufferings of these unfortunate and injured people
in the circumstances of their removal, in their passage to this
country, and in their separate and scattered condition here,
cannot well be conceived. From the enjoyment of a competency,
and in many instances affluence, in the beautiful prairies which
they had diked out from the sea and made fruitful and luxuriant
fields, they were at once reduced to abject poverty, and obliged
to depend in their dispersion in a strange land on public charity.
All suffered, but not alike. The case of one Rene Le Blanc was
peculiar. He had been a notary public in Nova Scotia. While
in the service of the government, he was taken by the Indians,
carried to a French fort and there held in captivity four years.
In a petition of the neutrals sent to Pennsylvania, to the King,
it was said of him : — " Father Le Blanc was seized, confined and
brought away among the rest of the people, and his family, consist-
ing of 20 children and about 150 grandchildren, were scattered
in the different colonies. He was put on shore at New York,
with only his wife and two youngest children, in an infirm state of
health; from whence he joined three more of his children at
Philadelphia, where he died without any more notice being taken
of him than any of us, notwithstanding his many years' labor and
deep sufferings in your majesty's service." The removal of the
Acadians, in the way it was effected, is considered an act of great
cruelty and injustice. It was the infliction of a terrible punish-
ment on a whole community, most of whom were innocent, for
FAMILY SKETCHES. 27
the misconduct of a part. Well has it been said, that the reasons
of state upon which it was sought to be justified, "were never
more cheaply urged nor more odiously triumphant." Col. Wins-
low, in a letter to the Governor of Nova Scotia, dated Grand Pre,
Aug. 30, 1755, says, "As to poor father Le Blanc, I shall, with
your Excellency's permission, send him to my own place." What
prevented his coming to Green Harbor does not appear. The
family who filled the place intended for him bore the name of
Mitchell. To this family, Gen. Winslow and his descendants
were ever uniformly kind ; we well recollect the last living mem-
bers of this family and the pensive gentility of their deportment.
They were torn from an affluent home, and it is said a member in
after years returned in the vain search of treasure hidden by
them beneath their native soil. Their blood courses the veins
of respectable families bearing other names, both in Massachu-
setts and Connecticut ; among others, are included those of Drew,
Peters, Winslow and Thomas.
The town of Winslow, Me., incorporated 1771,
was named in honor of Gen. John Winslow. The
original grantees bore the old colony names of Brad-
ford, Otis, Winslow, Taylor, Howard and Warren.
Kenelm Winslow, b. at Droitwich, England, 1599,
followed his brothers, Edward, Gilbert and John,
to New England, about 1630; he m. Ellen, widow
of John Adams, 1634, supposed to have been the
Ellen Newton of the Pilgrims, (Mrs. Adams had two
sons, John and James, and a dau. Susan, when she
last married.) They settled on a gentle eminence
by the sea, near the extremity of a neck of land
lying between Green Harbor and South Rivers.
This tract of the township was considered the Eden
28 MEMORIALS OF MARSHFIELD.
of the region. It was beautified with groves of
majestic oaks and graceful walnuts, with the under-
ground void of tangled shrubbery. A few of these
groves were standing within the memory of man,
but all have now fallen beneath the hand of the
woodman.
The children of Kenelm and Ellen Winslow
were, Kenelm, b. 1635, removed to Harwich, Cape
Cod; Ellen, b. 1637, m. Samuel Baker; Nathaniel,
b. 1639, m. Faith Miller, and succeeded to the
homestead of his father; Job, b. 1691, removed to
Swansea or Freetown. Kenelm Winslow often rep-
resented the town in the court of the colony. He
died at Salem, and was buried there, 1672. His
widow deceased 1681, aged 83 years.
Nathaniel Winslow and Faith Miller m. 1664;
had Faith, b. 1665; Nathaniel, b. 1667, m. Lydia
Snow; James, b. 1669; Gilbert, b. 1673, m. Mercy
Snow; Kenelm, b. 1675; Eleanor, b. 1677, m. John
Jones; Josiah, b. 1681, d. 1682. The homestead
of Kenelm Winslow, sen., passed, after the decease
of Nathaniel, his son, to Kenelm, his son, who m.
Abigail Waterman ; then to their son Kenelm, who
m. Abigail Bourn of Barnstable, whose son Kenelm
was the last resident of the family name thereon.
He removed to Kennebec County, Me., where he
recently deceased. The families of this name, both
in Lincoln and Waldo Counties, are, with perhaps
others, descended from Kenelm Winslow, sen. On
this estate remains, in fine preservation, one of the
FAMILY SKETCHES. 29
most ancient dwelling-houses in the township, now
the residence of Capt. Asa Waterman.
Capt. Nathaniel Winslow, b. 1667, agreeable to a
day-book of his, commanded, early in the last cen-
tury, the sloop Seaflower, engaged in freighting oak
wood from Careswell Creek to Boston. The price
then at Careswell was seven shillings per cord.
This was consigned to Philip Haskins, wharfinger,
Mr. Bird and Mr. Archer, at an advance of seven
shillings per cord. This post of maritime command,
we suppose, was as high as the charge of a clipper
ship to California is at the present time.
Josias Winslow, youngest brother of Gov. Edward
Winslow, was born at Droitwich, Eng., 1605, and
arrived in the colony with his brother Kenelm. He
settled on a lawn extending from the more elevated
lands of his brother Kenelm, southerly, to the north-
ern banks of Green Harbor River. He was often
employed in offices of public trust, was chosen town
clerk in 1646, which office he filled until his de-
cease, a period of nearly thirty years. He m. Mar-
garet, dau. of the venerable Thomas Bourn. They
had, Elizabeth, b. 1637 ; Jonathan, b. 1638 ; Mar-
garet, b. 1640; Rebecca, b. 1642; Susanna, b. 1644;
and Mary, b. .
Josias Winslow d. 1674. Margaret, his widow, d.
1683. Their only son, Jonathan, d. 1676, aged 38 ;
leaving a son John, b. 1664, m. Mary, and had
William, b. 1718, Eleanor, b. 1709, and Faith, 1706.
3*
30 MEMORIALS OF MARSHFIELD.
John, the last named, alienated the home of his
fathers, it is said, from fear ; fancying from its lawn-
like lands, and their contiguity to the sea, that it
would eventually sink beneath its storm-stirred
waves. He removed either to Bristol County or
the south part of the County of Plymouth. His
fears never became a reality ; the estate yet remains
above the level of the ocean, and has been owned
successively by four generations of the descendants
of the senior William Ford.
Returning to the ancestor of this branch of the
New England Winslow family, we find one of his
daus. m. to William Crow of Plymouth, another to
John Miller of Yarmouth, a third, Rebecca, m. 1661,
to John Thacher, also of Yarmouth, and Mary, m.
10 June, 1670, to John Tracy, who was one of the
first proprietors of Norwich, Conn. In the History
of Norwich, by Miss Caulkins, she is named as a
stately and beautiful woman. She deceased 1721.
Her dau. Elizabeth, b. 1698, m. Samuel Backus,
1716, who deceased 1740, leaving her a widow, with
eleven children. One of this number was the dis-
tinguished Baptist clergyman and church historian,
the late Rev. Isaac Backus of Middleborough, Mass.
Appended to a sermon preached by him on the
occasion of her decease, is a letter written by
herself, dated Norwich, 4 Nov., 1752. In this she
gives a graphic description of her own and her son
Samuel's imprisonment, together with others of her
venerable associates, for refusing to pay rates for the
FAMILY SKETCHES. 31
support of a ministry they could not conscientiously
approve, and from whose church fellowship they
had withdrawn. On the preceding 15 October, on a
dark rainy night, she was taken from her home and
orphaned family to prison, in which she was im-
mured thirteen days. She writes, "Jesus was in the
midst of the furnace with me, and though I was
bound, yet I was loosed." Her son-in-law, Gen.
Jabez Huntington, without her knowledge or con-
sent, cancelled the debt thus claimed.
The lawgivers of the Old Colony are entitled to
the grateful remembrance of their daughters, that no
like persecutions are found written on their books.
WHITE.
Resolved White came to New England in the
Mayflower, 1620, with his Pilgrim parents, Mr.
William White and his wife Susanna. He was
born near the time they resolved to seek a new
home in the wilds of the Western world, and re-
ceived his name from that circumstance. He is
supposed to have been six years of age at the time
of the Mayflower's arrival. He m. Judith, dan. of
Mr. William Vassall of Scituate, and settled firstly
on an estate granted him in that town. In 1662
he removed to Marshfield ; here he owned a farm on
North River, which he sold to John Rogers, 1670.
He owned another on South River Brook, on which
he probably resided after leaving Scituate. In 1672
32
MEMORIALS OF MARSHFIELD.
he exchanged this farm with Samuel Baker, for his,
which is said in the deed is " adjoining," situated
"over against Mount Skirgo." No entry of his ever
alienating the last named is to be found on the records
of Marshfield. Resolved White was a freeman of
Salem, 1679-80, and was living in 1684. The date
and place of his decease is unknown. His farm
which he received of Samuel Baker, in exchange,
must, from its locality, have been the estate which
the four children of Thomas Ford divided, 1769 and
1761, calling it the homestead of their honored
father. Its present owners are Ichabod Wadsworth,
Peleg Kent and others.
The children of Resolved and Judith White were,
William, b. 1642, d. at Marshfield, 1695; John, b.
1644; Samuel, b. 1646, removed to Rochester, Mass. ;
Resolved, b. 1648, d. 1670; Ann, b. 1649; Eliza-
beth, b. 1652; Josiah, b. 1654; and Susanna, b.
1656. Mrs. Judith White d. 1670.
There was, early in the last century, a John White,
residing in Salem, who was b. 1696, and d. 1781.
He m. Rebecca Flint. They were grandparents of
the late Joseph White of Salem, whose tragic death,
April 6, 1830, at the age of 82, is well known.
This Joseph White stated to his niece, Mrs. Eliza
Story White of Boston, from a manuscript letter of
whose is derived this information, that his grandsire,
John, b. 1696, told him there were three distinct
families of the name of White in Salem. We have
no trace of Resolved White's son John, and he may
have been father or grandfather of John, b. 1696.
FAMILY SKETCHES.
33
There has been a tradition in this family that they
were of Mayflower descent.
Peregrine White, son of Mr. William and Mrs.
Susanna White, was born on board the Mayflower,
in Cape Cod Harbor, November, 1620, and derived
his name from their peregrinations, and was the first
native-born New Englander. He came to Green
Harbor, with the family of his stepfather, Gov.
Edward Winslow, after 1632. He m. Sarah, dau.
of Mr. William and Elizabeth Bassett, passengers in
the Fortune, 1621. He settled on an estate, given
him by his father-in-law, lying between North and
South Rivers, not far from their united outlet to the
ocean. This tract was early granted to Mr. Bassett
by the freemen of the colony.
The children of Lieut. Peregrine White were,
Sarah, b. October, 1663, m. Thomas Young of
Scituate, 1688, and deceased 9 August, 1755, in the
92 year of her age. "She enjoyed her senses and
health in good measure till towards her end, and left
four sons surviving."
Daniel, the eldest son of Peregrine White, suc-
ceeded to the paternal farm; m. Hannah Hunt,
1674, d. 1724, leaving seven sons, from whom the
family name has been extensively spread. He,
Peregrine, had also sons Jonathan and Peregrine,
who removed to Middleborough, Mass., and Silva-
nus, who deceased before his father. His youngest
dau. was Mercy, who m. William Sherman, 1697,
d. 1739. Peregrine White was often chosen to
offices of trust in the township. In 1660 and in
34 MEMORIALS OF MARSHFIELD.
1673 he was representative to the General Court.
He figured considerably in military affairs from his
youth. Of the forces raised in the colony, 1642,
commanded by Capt. Standish, Peregrine White is
called the "auncient bearer." He was called Lieut.
White until 1673, when he was chosen one of the
Council of War, and afterwards styled Capt. White.
"He d. of a fever, 20 July, 1704, vigorous and of a
comely aspect to the last." Mrs. Sarah White, his
widow, d. 22 Jan., 1711.
The homestead of Peregrine White is owned by
John A. and Sybil White, of the sixth generation
from the Mayflower Pilgrim. A part of their
dwelling-house was erected by his son Peregrine.
The following beautiful lines having been fur-
nished expressly for this work by the talented
authoress, it is deemed an appropriate place for their
insertion at the close of the sketch of this family : —
PEREGRINE WHITE.
BY MISS L. H. SIGOURNEY.
'Tis bleak and wild on old Cape Cod,
'Mid the fierce November gale,
While there the little Mayflower roamed
With a lingering stranger's sail ;
And close a fair young creature clasped
Her helpless infant's form,
And cheerily sang, 'mid the chilling blast,
" Oh ! a mother's heart is warm."
FAMILY SKETCHES. 35
'Twas wintry cold on Plymouth beach
Where the log-reared cabins rose,
'Mid frowning rocks and howling storms
And the shaft of Indian foes,
'Mid dearth of bread and thick'ning graves, —
Yet hark to the tuneful song
That soothed the wail of a lonely babe, —
"Oh! a mother's heart is strong"."
She slept — and beside her pallet low
A being seem'd to stand,
Who chang'd the gloom of the dreary scene
With a wave of his spirit hand,
Spread cultur'd fields with golden corn,
Bade pleasant mansions rise,
And streets with busy people throng,
And church-spires woo the skies.
While moving on thro' Marshfield's vales,
'Mid the balm of her summer breeze,
With a peaceful smile on his honor'd brow
A fair old man she sees ; —
Full many a change in the Mother Land,
From the cottage to the throne,
As well as here, in this younger sphere,
That reverend sire hath known.
King James, the pedant, hath found a tomb
King Charles at Whitehall bled;
Stout Cromwell held his twelve years' lule
And slumbered with the dead;
The second Charles with gibe and jest
His royal realm surveyed ;
The second James in panic haste
Fled from the wreck he made.
36 MEMORIALS OF MARSHFIELD.
William and Mary hand in hand
The sceptre's sway sustain'd ;
Queen Ann, the last of Stuart's line,
In regal splendor reign'd ;
Seven sov'reigns from their palace proud
Had Death, the Spoiler, swept, —
Yet still his course erect and calm
New England's first born kept.
Then soft the guardian spirit said,
As he took his parting flight,
" Yon sage of fourscore years and fair,
With locks so silvery white,
Is he you bear with love and care —
Your baby — Peregrine White."
And the mother's heart was glad that day
From the dream that had cheer'd the night.
ADAMS.
John and James Adams were sons of the Pilgrim
John Adams and his wife Ellen. They probably
came to Green Harbor with their mother, who m.,
after the decease of her first husband in 1633,
Kenelm Winslow, Esq.
James Adams m. Frances, dau. of Mr. William
Vassall, 1646. They had Anne, Richard, Mary and
Margaret. They resided on a farm, on the Marshfield
side of North River, nearly opposite Mr. Vassall's, the
father of Mrs. Adams. They worshiped with the
second church in Scituate, and their children were
carried thither for baptism. "James Adams died at
sea, on board the good ship called the James, of
FAMILY SKETCHES. 37
London, 16 Jan., 1651." Did his widow Frances
m. John Rogers?
John Adams, Jr., son of the primitive John, m.
Jane James, 1654. He dwelt near Mount Skirgo,
an elevation on the Marshfield bounds of the forest
which lies between this town and Pembroke. They
had Joseph, Martha, and perhaps others. Joseph m.
Alice Dingley; and had, Joanna, b. 1705; Abigail,
b. 1709; Lydia, b. 1713, m. Elnathan Fish of
Kingston, 1739; Alice, b. 1716, m. John Allen,
1758; and Huldah, b. 1720, d. 1749. Joseph
Adams d. 1750, aged 83, and Alice, his widow, d.
1762, aged 82. The name has long been extinct in
Marshfield.
VASSALL.
Mr. William Vassall, the father of Mrs. Resolved
White and Mrs. James Adams, was probably the
most wealthy of the Plymouth colonists. He came
to New England with Gov. Winthrop, 1630, and
returned the same summer. In June, 1635, he
reembarked for New England in the ship Blessing,
Joseph Lecester, master, accompanied by his wife
Ann, and his children, Judith, Frances, John, Ann
and Mary, ranging from one to sixteen years of age.
"The Vassalls were of Italian origin. They
came to London in the reign of James and Charles
the First, and possessed great wealth and influence in
that city." They also held immense estates in
New England and the West Indies.
38 MEMORIALS OF MARSHFIELD.
William Vassall had lands both in Marshfield and
Scituate. He settled near the banks of North
River, on the Scituate side thereof. He denomi-
nated his plantation "West Newland," his house,
erected 1635, "Belie House," the whole neck of
land, "Belle House Neck," and a field on the north
side of the neck, "Brook Hall Field." In 1646 Mr.
Vassall returned to England, went from thence to
Barbadoes, where he deceased, 1655, aged 62.
The families of this name early in Massachusetts
Colony were descended from Samuel, the brother of
William Vassall, who was a merchant of London.
A monument to the memory of Samuel Vassall was
erected in King's Chapel, Boston, 1766, by his
great-grandson, Florentius Vassall of Jamaica. The
town of Vassalborough, Me., was named in honor of
the Vassall family, and was included with other
towns in an early grant to the same.
BOURN.
Mr. Thomas Bourn was the eldest of the Marsh-
field settlers, and a patriarch on its Eden. It is not
ascertained from whence he emigrated. Circum-
stances lead to the conclusion that he was one of
the "men of Kent." His home lands were situated
adjoining the estates of his sons-in-law, Josias Wins-
low, sen., and Robert Waterman, to whom he gave
of his own lands liberally. He was also a large
land holder in the south part of the Colony. He
FAMILY SKETCHES. 39
and his Avife Elizabeth were passed life's meridian
when we find them at Green Harbor. He d. 1664,
aged 83. His wife d. 1660, aged 70. Their son
John succeeded to the homestead. He m. Alice,
dau. of Thomas Bebeech, 18 July, 1645, — the second
marriage found recorded in the town's books. They
had, Elizabeth, b. 1646, m. Josiah Bent; Thomas,
b. 1647, m. Elizabeth Rouse, 1681; Alice, b. 1649,
m. John Mann; Ann, b. 1651, m. John Baily; Mar-
tha, b. 1653, m. Valentine Decrow ; Mary, b. 1660,
and Sarah, 1663. The daus. of the ancestor Tho-
mas were thus m., Lydia to Elder Nath. Tilden of
Scituate, Martha to John Bradford, Margaret to
Josias Winslow, sen., 1636, Elizabeth to Robert
Waterman, 1638, and Anne to Nehemiah Smith,
1639. Messrs. Bradford and Smith, with their
households, were among the early settlers of Nor-
wich, Conn.
The present owner of the homestead of his
fathers is the venerable Mr. John Bourn, aged 95,
of the fifth generation from the primitive Thomas,
his physical and mental powers being in remarkable
preservation. He is the last survivor in the town-
ship of the patriotic band who were in the service
of their country during its struggle for independence.
He was, with others from Green Harbor, with
Gen. Thomas at Dorchester Heights on the mem-
orable night when its fortifications were erected.
" They're gone — those old men all are gone !
Like autumn's latest leaves they passed j— •
Last of the band he stands alone,
Bending in age's wintry blast."
40 MEMORIALS OF MARSHFIELD.
WATERMAN.
Robert Waterman m. Elizabeth, dau. of Thomas
Bourn, 1638, and settled next north to his brother-
in-law, Josias Winslow, sen., on Marshfield Neck.
He had a brother Thomas of Roxbury, ancestor of
a part of the New England family of that name.
Robert and Elizabeth Waterman had, Joseph, b.
1639-40 j John, b. 1642; Thomas, b. 1644; and
Robert. Robert Waterman, sen., d. 1652, and Josias
Winslow and Anthony Snow were appointed guar-
dians to his children.
John, m. Ann Sturtevant, 1665 ; had Samuel, b.
1666, Elizabeth, 1669, Anna, 1671, Lydia, 1678,
Robert, 1681, and John, 16S5. John Waterman was
one of the purchasers of the township called Free-
town, where he probably removed. He sold his
Marshfield lands in 1686. Thomas was one of the
thirty purchasers of Norwich, Conn., where he re-
moved about 1660, and married Miriam, dau. of
Lieut. Thomas Tracy, 1668. Robert, the youngest
son, m. Susanna Lincoln, 1675. Joseph succeeded
to the homestead of his father. From conclusive
circumstances it appears he m. Sarah, dau. of his
guardian, Anthony Snow. Their children were,
Sarah, b. 1674, m. Solomon Hewet ; Joseph, b. 1676,
m. Susanna Snow ; Elizabeth, b. 1679, m. Ichabod
Bartlett ; N Abigail, b. 1671, m. Kenelm Winslow, jr. ;'
Anthony, b. 1684, m. Elizabeth Arnold ; Bethiah,
b. 1687, m. Samuel Dogget, 1710 ; Lydia, b. 1689,
m. John Thomas, 1714.
FAMILY SKETCHES. 41
SNOW.
Anthony Snow was at Plymouth 1638, where he
m. Abigail, youngest dau. of Richard Warren of
Mayflower memory. He was one of the early set-
tlers at Green Harbor. His estate was on the upper
part of Marshfield Neck. The location of his house
and well can be found near some old apple trees, on
the west side of a small oblong swamp, called
" Snow's swamp ; " the only relic left sacred to the
name of this useful man, who often represented the
town in the court of the colony, and was otherwise an
active man in town affairs. His children were, Josiah,
Abigail, Lydia, Sarah and Alice. Abigail, m. Michael
Ford. Anthony Snow d. and also his son Josiah,
Aug. 1692. Josiah Snow m. Rebecca Baker, 1669.
They had Lydia, b. 1672, m. Nathaniel Winslow ;
Mercy, b. 1675, m. Gilbert Winslow ; Deborah, b.
1677, d. 1681 ; Sarah, b. 1680, m. Samuel Baker ;
Susanna, b. 1682, m. Joseph Waterman and Thomas
Tracy : Abiah, the youngest, m. Nathan Thomas,
1716. The widow of Josiah Snow m. John Sawyer
1694, and deceased 1711.
Anthony Snow gave the town, some years previous
to his decease, a piece of land near the meeting-
house for a burying place. This was not used for
sepulchral purposes until 1721. It has recently been
enlarged, and called Cedar Grove Cemetery.
4*
42 MEMORIALS OF MARSHFIELD.
BEADLE OR BIDDLE.
Joseph Beadle was a carpenter ; he m. at Plymouth
the widow Rachel Deane, 1636; she was a passenger
to New England in the ship Planter, 1635. He was
a useful citizen in public matters of the township.
He deceased 1672, without children. He resided at
the extremity of Marshfield Neck ; and Beadle's
Rocks, on the beach which adjoined his farm, per-
petuate his name. His estate was appraised at over
£221. This, which was large for the colonists at
that period, he bequeathed to his wife, her dau.
Martha Deane, to the Rev. Mr. Arnold, to Jacob
Bumpus, his late servant, and to the town's poor.
His step-daughter, Martha Deane, m. James Clement,
1674; he d. the same year, and Martha Clement was
m. to Mr. James Powell in 1676.
BRANCH.
John Branch was an early proprietor of the islet bear-
ing his name. He was son of Peter Branch, carpen-
ter, of Kent County, Eng., who d. on board the ship
Castle, during her passage to New England, 1638.
It appears by his will, dated 16 June, 1638, that the
said John was his only child. He committed him,
with his estate, to the care of Thomas Wiborne, late
of Tenterden, Kent, for eleven years. In case of
his son's decease in that period, his estate was to go
' : to the poor of the congregations of Scituate and
FAMILY SKETCHES. 43
Concord, and that congregation that goes in the ship
called the Castle, if there be a company of them, if
not, to be divided between the aforesaid two," five
pounds excepted, which was given to the widow of
Stephen Igleden or her children.
John Branch m. Mary Speed, 1652. They had
John, who was slain with Capt. Pierce, near Reho-
both, 1076. Elizabeth, b. 1656, Peter, b. 1659,
Thomas, b. 1661, d. at Boston, 1683, and Mercy, b.
1664; John Branch d. 17 August, 1711. There ex-
ists a tradition that one of the last proprietors of the
island, of this family name, was drowned in swim-
ming his horse over Green Harbor River, on his
return from a visit to his friends at Plymouth. One
version of this disaster says his wife shared his sad
decease. Experience Branch and his wife Lydiad.
Nov. 1699 ; she on the 5th and her husband on the
14th.
WINTER AND HEWETT.
Christopher Winter succeeded Mr. John Bradford
in the occupancy of Governor's Island after 1660.
He was of Plymouth, 1639, " where he was fined
ten shillings for publishing himself in marriage to
Jane Cooper, contrary to order and custom of this
government," whether the said Jane ever became
Mrs. Winter, is not written. He had daus. Mary,
m. to John Read, 1668 ; Martha, m. to John Hewet,
1668, and Ann, m. to Robert Batson, 1676.
Christopher Winter d. 1683, and his son-in-law,
44 MEMORIALS OF MARSHFIELD.
Hewet, succeeded to his island home. His children
were, Solomon, b. 1670, Bridget, b. 1673, Elizabeth,
b. 1675, Winter, b. 1678, Christopher, b. 1681, Marcy,
b. 1686, and Lydia, b. 1689 ; Martha, the mother,
d. 1691.
John Hewet was probably descended from Tho-
mas Huet, who came to New England with the
founders of the township of Hingham.
This island bore the name of He wet's Island, after
the decease of Winter. That resort of the sports-
men and fear of the mariner, " the Brant Rock," lies
extending into the sea, between this and Branch's
Island.
GORAM, GORUM, [GORHAM.]
The first inhabitant of the name found in New
England, is Ralph Gorram, Daxbury, 1637. From
that invaluable work, Savage's Gleanings, &c, we
trace his European descent on this wise: — Ralph
Gorram, b. 1575, was son of James Gorram of Ben-
efield, b. 1550, m. to Agnes Bernington, 1572, and
d. 1576. " This family was descended from the
De Gorrams of La Tarmiere, near Gorram, in Maine,
on the borders of Brittany, where William, son of
Ralph de Gorram, built a castle in 1128. A branch
came over to England with the Conqueror.
"John Gorram, one of the early settlers at Green
Harbor, was baptized at Benefield, Northamptonshire,
28 Jan., 1620-1 ; came to the old Colony with his
father, Ralph. He m. at Plymouth, 1644, Desire,
FAMILY SKETCHES. 45
dan. of the Hon. John Rowland, of Mayflower
memory, andgrandanghter of John Carver, the first
governor of the colony. Their children were, De-
sire, b. at Plymouth, 1644; Temperance, b. 1646;
Elizabeth, b. 1648 ; James, b. 1650 ; and John, b.
1651, at Marshfield ; Joseph, b. at Yarmouth, 1653 ;
Jabez, b. 1656 ; Mercy, b. 1658 ; and Lydia, 1661,
at Barnstable."—! N. E. H. & G. Reg., 11, 67.
John Gorham resided at Green Harbor, near the
hill which bears his name ; an olden home-lot, very
apparent in its vicinity, was doubtless where his
dwelling-house stood. He was, while resident here,
often employed in public affairs, and was occasion-
ally connected with Joseph Beadle in the bridge
building business. Of these the settlers must have
stood in much need, having so many rivers coursing
their way through the settlement to the sea. Capt.
John Gorham d. at Swansey, of a fever, while in
command of a company in Philip's war. His widow
d. 13 Oct., 1683.
An anecdote connected with the marriage of Ly-
dia, the youngest dau. of Capt. Gorham, has been
preserved, as follows : " John Thatcher, while on
his return from Marshfield, to his home in Yarmouth,
in 1661, with his bride Rebecca, dau. of Josias
Winslow, sen., tarried for a night in Barnstable, at
the house of Capt. Gorham. In the merry conver-
sation with the happy pair, an infant was introduced,
and the night of her birth, named. Mr. Thatcher
observed it was the night of their marriage ; taking
46 MEMORIALS OF MARSHFIELD.
the child he presented it to his bride, saying, 'Here,
my dear, is a little lady, born on the night we were
married : I wish you would kiss her, for I intend to
make her my second wife.' 'I will,' she replied,
1 to please you, hoping it may be long before your
intention is fulfilled.' Then taking the babe she
affectionately kissed it and returned it to the nurse's
arms. This jesting prediction was eventually ful-
filled." Mrs. Rebecca Thatcher deceased in the
midst of her years, and Lydia Gorham became the
second wife of John Thatcher in 1684. The de-
scendants of Capt. John Gorham have been very
numerous and respectable. Gorham, Me., incorpo-
rated 1764, was named out of respect to Capt. Gor-
ham, whose descendants were some of the grantees.
The first English birth in this place was a dau. of
Capt. John Phinney, b. 13 Aug. 1736, and called
Mary Gorham ; she died, 1825, a lady of great piety,
the wife of Capt. James Irish.
ROUSE.
John Rouse settled early at Careswell Creek ; his
wife was Annis Pabodie, dau. of John and Isabel
Pabodie, original settlers at Duxbury. Mrs. Rouse
had a brother Francis, who settled at Topsfield ; m.
Mary, dau. of Reginald Foster, ancestor of all the
Peabody's in the country; and also John, of Dux-
bury, who m. Elizabeth, dau. of the primitive John
Alden, who is ancestor of all the Pabodies.
FAMILY SKETCHES. 47
The children of John and Annis Rouse were.
Anna, who m. Isaac Holmes, 1678 ; Mary, b. 1640,
m. a Price; John, b. 1643; Simon, b. 1645; George,
b. 1648; and Elizabeth, who m. Thomas Bourn,
1681. John Rouse, sen., d. at Careswell Creek, 1684.
John Rouse, jr., m. Mary Rogers, 1656, deceased,
1711. George and Simon were among the purcha-
sers of Little Compton, 1674 ; and probably removed
thither. The Careswell Creek estate came into the
possession of the dau., Elizabeth Bourn, or her
children. Dea. Rouse Bourn was the last hereditary
owner of said estate. He removed to Winthrop, Me.,
before 1820, where he was recently living at an
advanced age.
The historian of Scituate calls John Rouse, sen.,
the unfortunate man who was imprisoned and pub-
licly whipped for being a Quaker, on the accusation
of Christopher Winter. We believe some of the
family of John Rouse became Friends, but he was
not the subject of this inhuman persecution. In
Sewall's History of this injured people, he is called
the son of a gentleman of Barbadoes. We are
happy to think the government of Plymouth Colony
did not carry its severities to this people to the
awful extent it reached in Massachusetts; and we
are proud of Isaac Robinson, Timothy Hatherly
and James Cudworth, associates of our own Josias
Winslow, for refusing to sign the circular sent them
from the Massachusetts Colony recommending cap-
ital punishment for- worshiping God in a different
48 MEMORIALS OF MARSHFIELD.
form from their own ; — green as Green Harbor ever
be their memories !
BOMPASSE, BUMPUS, BUMP.
Edward Bompasse, one of the first comers, a pas-
senger in the Fortune, 1621, lived in the neighbor-
hood of Careswell, near Duck Hill, so called. His
wife's christian name was Hannah. Their children
were, Sarah, who m. Thomas Durvam, 1649; Faith,
b. 1631; Elizabeth, b. 1633; John, b. 1636; Ed-
ward, b. 1638; Joseph, b. 1639; Jacob, b. 1644;
and Hannah, b. 1646. Edward Bumpus deceased
1693, and Hannah, his widow, followed him to their
spirit home in two days therefrom.
This family removed to the southerly part of the
Colony and Cape Cod.
PITNEY.
James Pitney, a freeman of the Colony 1643, was
a felt-maker. He had a number of tracts of land
granted him in the township; one at Mt. Skirgo,
which he sold to Baker and Adams, 1647; another
at Green Harbor, sold to James Lindall, 1646. He
removed to Boston after 1650. His will is found
on the probate records of the Old Colony, of which
he appoints his daughter, Sarah Thomas, executrix.
It is probable he returned to his daughter's, at Green
Harbor, prior to his decease. His wife Sara, aged
FAMILY SKETCHES.
49
22; and his children, Sara, aged 7, and Samuel,
aged 1J years; together with Margaret Pitney,
probably a sister of James, aged 22; were passengers
to New England in the ship Planter. They were
from Sudbury, Suffolk County, England.
LYNDALL, LINDALL.
James Lindall had a garden place at Dnxbury,
1640, near the bounds of Marshfield. He purchased
lands, in 1646, on the west side of Green Harbor
River, Marshfield, of James Pitney. In 1648, a
tract of land adjoining his first purchase, extending
from the river up into the woods to Scituate Path,
which was first granted to John Cary, was instated
by the freemen on James Lindall ; — " Sd James
having promist to come and live on y e same, within
five or six years, or else build upon it and place
such a one as shall be approved ; and the sd James
Lindall doth promise yearly to pay to y e main-
tenance of y e ministry in the Church at Marshfield,
till he comes to live on y e sd lands, the sum of ten
shillings a year, and afterward more if God enable
him."
James Lindall's will is dated at Duxbury, 10 Aug.,
1652, within the time allotted for his removal to his
Marshfield estate. He and his wife Mary both
deceased during that year; and it is conjectural,
from its vicinity and the connecting circumstances,
that their remains were interred on the ancient
5
50 MEMORIALS OF MARSHFIELD.
burying hill at Green Harbor. They left two
minor children, Timothy and Abigail, placed by
the court under the care of Constant Southworth,
the especial friend of their father. Timothy re-
moved to Salem, 1660, where he became a pros-
perous merchant and distinguished citizen. He d.
1698-9, aged 56 years and 7 months. Abigail m.
Capt. Samuel Wadsworth of Milton, who was killed
by the Indians at the Sudbury fight, 21 April, 1676.
HOLMES.
William Holmes, planter, was of Scituate as early
as 1641, where he had baptized — Abraham, 1641;
Israel, 1642; Isaac, 1644; Sarah, 1646; Rebecca,
1648; Josiah, 1650, and Mary, 1655; to which may
be added John, b. probably before their emigration
to New England. Mr. Holmes removed subse-
quently to Marshfield, and settled next south to
Goodman Carver and Goodman Dingley, near the
Lindall estate. He d. 1678, aged 86. His widow
Elizabeth d. 1697, at the same age.
John, their eldest son, succeeded the Rev. Ralph
Partridge as pastor of the church at Duxbury. He
m. Mary, dau. of John Wood of Plymouth, 1661,
and d. 1675. His widow became the third wife of
Maj. William Bradford. "Mr. Holmes as a preacher
was sincere, but mild and gentle, and endeared
himself to his flock by the meekness and lowliness
of his soul." — Winsor's Duxbury.
FAMILY SKETCHES. 51
Abraham, son of William, m. Elizabeth, dau. of
the Rev. Samuel Arnold. They had Elizabeth,
Isaac, Bathsheba, m. Samuel Doggett, 1691, and
Rose, who m. Thomas Blanchard of Andover,
1698-9.
Mrs. Elizabeth Holmes d. 1690 ; and Mr. Holmes
m. Abigail Nichols of Hingham, 1695. This family
removed to Rochester, Mass.
Israel, son of William, m. Desire, the widow of
William Sherman, 1684. Her maiden name was
Dotey. She was m. to William Sherman, jr., 1667;
he d. 1679; and she m. Israel Holmes, 1681, who
was drowned in Plymouth Harbor, 1684; after this
she became the second wife of Alexander Standish,
eldest son and heir of Capt. Miles Standish, and
mother of his three youngest children, Desire, Tho-
mas and Ichabod. She had five sons and daughters
by her first husband, two sons, Israel and John
Holmes, by her second, making ten children. She
d. January, 1731, aged 86 years, and a gravestone in
Cedar Grove Cemetery marks the spot of her inter-
ment. Her daughter, Experience Sherman, b. 1678,
m. Miles Standish, her step-son. He inherited the
celebrated homestead of his father at Captain's Hill,
where he d. 1739. His widow lived until 1744,
and is supposed to be the last occupant of the name,
of that elevated and beautiful peninsula.
52 MEMORIALS OF MARSHFIELD.
DINGLEY.
John Dingley came into Lynn, Massachusetts
government, 1637, from whence he went with a
colony to Sandwich, where he stopped a while ; but,
with his associate, Thomas Chillingworth, was at
Marshfield not far from the time of its incorporation,
where they permanently settled. It is believed that
some tie of consanguinity existed between these
families. The children of John and Sarah Dingley
were, John, d. 1655; Mary, who m. Josias, son of
Capt. Miles Standish, 1654, d. and was buried at
Duxborough, 1 July, 1655 ; Sarah, who m. William
Ford, 1658 ; Hannah, who m. Josias Keen ; and Jacob.
John Dingley, sen., d. 1658. He was often chosen
to officiate in town affairs. The family name is
found on the homestead.
CARVER.
Robert Carver had lands granted him at Green
Harbor. 1638. In 1643, a farm was given him
lying between the estates of Edward Winslow and
William Thomas. This had been given by Edward
Winslow to the town, for the better accommodation
of a neighborhood ; and was transferred, with Wins-
low's approval, to John Thomas, 1649, with the
housing and fencing thereon. Carver removed to
another grant, near Mr. Bulkely's and Goodman
Dingley's.
FAMILY SKETCHES.
53
Robert Carver d. 1680, aged 86, having outlived
his wife Christian, 22 years. They had one son,
John, who m. Mellicent Ford, 1658, and deceased,
1649, aged 42. His widow m. Thomas Drake of
Weymouth.
John and Mellicent Carver had, William, b. 1659,
John, Elizabeth, b. 1663, Robert, Eleazer, David,
Mercy, b. 1672, Anna and Mehetabel.
William, the eldest, succeeded to the homestead,
and m. Elizabeth, dau. of Deac. John Foster, 1682.
He died 2 Oct., 1760, aged 101 years 9 months
and 14 days. This farm is owned by descendants
of the name.
THOMAS.
William Thomas, a Welch gentleman, one of the
merchant adventurers, came into the colony about
1630. Came to Green Harbor, with Mr. Blinman,
about 1641, and became a permanent settler there
1645. He acted in the public affairs of both town
and colony, and as late as the May prior to his de-
cease in August, we find him presiding at one of
these posts of duty. He deceased, August, 1651,
aged 77. Secretary Morton leaves us the following
tribute to his memory : —
" 1651. This year, Mr. William Thomas expired
his natural life, in much peace and comfort. He
served in the place of magistracy divers years ; he
was a well approved and well grounded Christian j
5*
54 MEMORIALS OF MARSHFIELD.
well read in the Holy Scriptures and other approved
authors ; a good lover and approver of godly ministers
and good christians, and one that had a sincere desire
to promote the common good both of church and
state. He died of consumption and was honorably
buried at Marshfield."
His son, Capt. Nathaniel, succeeded to the estate.
He was of transatlantic birth and in the prime of
manhood when he came to Green Harbor. He is
then called Lieut. Thomas, and commanded one of
the watches maintained there for fear of an attack
from the Indians, in 1643. In the course of this
year he was appointed, by the court, town's captain.
He d. 1674, aged about 68. His remains, with those
of his father, repose in brick graves, north of the
centre of the field which they had given to the dead
of Green Harbor. There can be found, with the
inscriptions now almost effaced, their fragmentary
memorial stones.
His children were, William, b. 1638, d. unmarried;
Mary, who m. Simon Ray, of Block Island ; Na-
thaniel, b. 1643 ; and Elizabeth, b. 1646, and per-
haps others. In 1652 he confirmed the gift of his
father of 100 acres of land for a parsonage.
Nathaniel Thomas, Esq., b. 1643, m. Deborah,
dau. of Nicholas Jacob, of Hingham, 1663; she d.
1696, and the widow of Capt. Tom Condy, of Boston,
was his second wife. He was an officer in Philip's
war, and the day after the commencement of hostili-
ties, addressed Gov. Winslow thus, by letter : —
FAMILY SKETCHES. 55
Swanzey, June 25, 1675.
Right Honored Sir :
" A particular account of our arrival here, and the sad provi-
dence that, yesterday, fell out at Mattapoisett, of the loss of six
men, without doubt you have from our General, [Cudworth,] which
may 1 desire be an inducement to you to strengthen our towns,
that are weakened by our departure, since the Indians do their
exploits on outhouses and straggled persons. It is reported, cred-
ibly, that Uncas sent Philip twenty men last Saturday. Sennight
and Nanno sent him word that if he sent him six English heads,
then all the Indians in the country were engaged against the
English. Sir, our men are all well and cheerful, through God's
mercy. Send not your southward men to us, but secure your-
selves with them. Send us help from the Massachusetts, which
is our General's and Counsel's advice. The forces here are dis-
persed to several places of the town and some to Rehoboth, which
this day we intend to draw into a narrower compass ; in which,
when we have done, we intend to lay ambushment in the Indian's
walks, to cut off their men as they do cut off our men ; for their
present motion is to send forth scouts to lie in our walks, to make
discovery and cut off our men. I pray, sir, remember me to my
wife, and bid her be of good cheer ; the Lord is our keeper. Our
soldiers here desire to be remembered to their wives and friends.
Wili Ford is well of his ague. Thus desiring your honor's and
all God's people's prayers for us,
I remain,
Your honor's servant,
NATHANIEL THOMAS.
Nathaniel and Deborah [Jacobs] Thomas, had
Nathaniel, Joseph, Deborah, Dorothy, William, Eli-
sha, Joshua, Caleb, Isaac and Mary, bom from 1664
to 1686.
56 MEMORIALS OF MARSHFIELD.
Nathaniel, son of Nathaniel Thomas, 2d, m. Mary
Appleton, 1694. They had three sons, John, Na-
thaniel, and Joseph. He d. and was buried at Ply-
mouth, 1738. His son John succeeded to the Green
Harbor estate, and m. Mary, dau. of Simon and Ju-
dith [Manwaring] Ray, of New London, 1724.
They had eight children, b. from 1724 to 1737.
John Thomas and his wife both deceased, 1737,
leaving at their departure but one surviving child,
Nathaniel Ray, who became the noted loyalist of
Marshneld. He was b. 1731, and d. at Windsor,
Nova Scotia, 19 Sept., 1787.
It is said that when Gov. Hutchinson exercised
his blandishments upon an individual, and applied
them in all their force, he seldom failed of prevailing,
and Nath'l Ray Thomas fell a victim to these allure-
ments. He was appointed a mandamus counsellor,
and his mansion house was converted into quarters
for British troops. He joined the British army at
Boston, and accompanied it to Halifax on its evacua-
tion thereof. His family returned to their home
after the retreat of the Queen's Guards therefrom,
having sojourned at a neighbor's during that period.
At the close of the war, this beautiful inheritance of
their father's, with the exception of one third, was
confiscated, and they joined, with one exception, viz.,
the late Capt. John Thomas, their husband and
father, at Nova Scotia. Were not the sacrifices of
Nath'l Ray Thomas as great to royalty, as his neigh-
bors' and namesakes' were to liberty ?
FAMILY SKETCHES. 57
Mrs. Thomas was the dau. of Henry and Elizabeth
Packer Deering, of Boston ; she left an excellent
character at Green Harbor. During the direful
" dearth of bread," at one period of the war, she fed
the very people from whom, in the warmth of party
feeling, she had met much indignity. She deceased,
1810, at Windsor, Nova Scotia, aged 78 years. The
following stanzas are extracted, from a tribute to her
memory, by Mrs. Cunningham, dau. of the late
Hon. Perez Morton : —
" Oh, snatched too soon ! ere love could find
One life bound hope decay,
Ere time or sorrow from thy mind
Could steal one charm away.
For though around thy fading brows
The wintry storms had prest,
Yet all, that cheerful summer knows,
Was pictured in thy breast.
Still flashed the eye — and sparkling played
More than could lips express,
And still the melting smile displayed
A soul of tenderness.
That soul by sense and judgment moved,
By virtue's self inspired,
Thou wert in every scene beloved,
Through every change admired.
Though at thy heart so oft were driven
The arrows of Despair,
The tearful eyes were raised to Heaven
And shielding Faith was there."
58
MEMORIALS OF MARSHFIELD.
The following extracts are from an historical let-
ter, and other papers, forwarded by John Thomas,
Esq., of Irvington, N. Y., which he received of Mrs.
Henry Ward, to whose husband the letter was ad-
dressed, when a boy at school of the age of 9 years.
Warwick, March 5th, 1793.
My father, grandfather, and great grandfather, were all named
Simon Ray. I shall distinguish them by first, second, and third ;
Simon Ray, 2d, came from England with his father, a lad of about
sixteen years, to Plymouth ; a very respectable family. Whether
his mother came or not, I do not know. But about the time
Simon Ray, 2d, grew up, his father married a widow George,
with ten children, which offended him, and he with seven others
went to Block Island, and purchased it ; and they had but one
cow to three families, and they used to catch fish called horse
mackerel, and make hasty pudding, and put the milk in as we do
molasses, that was their breakfast. They went four mile into the
neck to clear the land. At night, when they came home, that
was their supper, and they all lived in love and harmony, like so
many good brothers. After a while, a son of the George family,
having heard of the purchase S. Ray, 2d, had made, came to
Block Island to see him. It was rare to see visitors, and being
a connection of his father, and he of a benevolent make, and
land plenty, told him he would give him half of his purchase if he
would clear it, which he readily accepted ; and that is the land
owned by the Mitchells and Paines, at this time.
S. Ray, 3d, always kept them in fear of dispossessing them ;
but I believe he gave them a quitclaim before he died ; I don't
know at what age. But when Simon Ray, 2d, married a
Thomas, at Marshfield, of a very good family, and brought her
to Block Island, and had three daughters. Mary, the eldest, mar-
ried an Englishman, who carried her to England, and she was the
first American lady introduced to the king, and kissed his hand ;
the second were Saba, she married a Sands, on Long Island, and
FAMILY SKETCHES. 59
that family were her offspring, Comfort and those at Block Island.
The 3d was Dorothy ; she married a Clapp, at Rye, — some of
them are living, — very clever people. Simon Ray, 3d, was their
only son ; I don't know his age when his mother died ; but although
he, S. Ray, 2d, was offended and left his father because he m.
a widow with ten children, he married a widow with eleven ; and
then Simon Ray, the 3d, left his father and went to New London
and married a Manovin ; by whom he had a Simon, Gideon, Na-
thaniel and Mary. Simon and Gideon were sea-faring men, of
excellent character ; Nathaniel was a tiller of the ground ; he had
one son, Simon Ray, and died. The son, Simon Ray, the 3d,
educated at New Haven College. His three sons, and grandson,
all died, I think, between the age of 20 and 23 years. Their sis-
ter, Mary, went to Marshfield to visit her relations, and there she
married into her own family, a Thomas ; she died young, leaving
an only child, Nathaniel Ray. He was left rich ; a farm that
would cut 100 loads of salt hay, well stocked house, well furnished
with everything. He was educated at Cambridge, and when he
was of age it was all wasted but the land. He married Sally
Deering, of Boston, a charming girl, and your grandma was at
the wedding ; had sack posset and a beautiful drest plumb cake
for supper. They had a large family of children ; and when the
war came he was chosen a mandamus councillor, and being badly
advised, accepted it, and went off with the regulars and died at
Halifax. His widow lives genteelly in that country on a farm.
Simon Ray, 3d, lived a widower twenty-one years ; had buried all
his sons, and his daughter lived so far from him, that he came to
Warwick and married my mother, a maiden lady of 37 years,
Deborah Greene, sister to Daniel and Phillip Greene, and daugh-
ter of Job and Phebe Greene. He was a councillor, had a large
landed estate. They went to Block Island, and had we four lovely
sisters ; Judith, who married a Hubbard; Ann, who married your
grandaddy, Samuel Ward ; Catharine, your grandma Greene, and
Phebe, who married a Littlefie — , probably Littlefield.
Now I must return to Simon Ray, 2d. He lived to be 101 years
1 month and 1 day old. He was blind and lame many years. In
the French war, a privateer landed and used the inhabitants very
60 MEMORIALS OF MARSHFIELD.
ill. He had a chest moved and they supposed it was money.
They tied him to a tree, and whipped him to make him tell, and I
think they left him for dead. After he was lame, he learned a
great deal of the Bible by heart ; he could say all the Psalms, the
New Testament, and a great deal of the Old. My father went
in one day and asked him how he did ; he said very poorly ; for
he made it a constant rule to repeat, I've forgot how many Psalms
and chapters in a day, and to-day I've only repeated fifty. He
asked my father one day how the season was. Oh ! said my father,
a very severe drought, and seemed to repine. He said, my son,
let God alone to govern the earth. I just remember him, sitting
in an arm chair, with white hair, and being pleasant ; and the night
he died he called us all to him, and told us to remember our Creator
in the days of our youth, and the advantage of living virtuous
lives and making God our friend, and the peace and happiness we
should enjoy in the other world. I remember my mother cutting
up plain cake and cheese at his funeral, and she cut it in a cheese
tub, and it was served in pewter platters ; he desired her to do it.
You are descended of reputable ancestors on all sides. You had
four grandaddy governors, and that you may be as worthy man
as they all were, is the sincere wish of
Your affectionate grandma,
CATY GREENE.
John Thomas, an orphan boy of 14 years, was a
passenger to New England, in the ship Hopewell,
1635. A tradition is transmitted to us, that a pater-
nal property had been lost to him by being improp-
erly entrusted. He was kindly taken under the care
and protection of Gov. Edward Winslow, and was
long the faithful steward at Careswell. His name
stands, next to Winslow's on the first list of those
who bore arms in the township. He m. Sarah, d. of
James Pitney, 1648. The farm which Gov. Winslow
FAMILY SKETCHES. 61
gave for the better accommodation of a neighbor-
hood, was transferred to him 1649, where he lived.
He d. abont 1676, and Sarah, his widow, 1682.
Their children, were John, b. 1649, m. Sarah ;
Elizabeth, b. 1652. She was the female attendant
of the distinguished Pilgrim mother, Susanna White
Winslow, in her declining years ; and by her the
tradition of the dutiful deportment of her son Pere-
grine to her has been handed down.
Samuel, b. 1655, m. Mercy, dau. of Dea. William
Ford, 1680; Daniel, b. 1659, m. Experience, dau. of
Thomas Tilden, 1698 ; Sarah, b. 1661, m. Benjamin
Phillips, 1681 ; James, b. 1663, m. Mary, dau. it is
believed, of Stephen Tilden ; Ephraim, b. 1667-8,
a member of the emigrating party from Green Har-
bor to Little Compton ; and Israel, b. 1670, m. Be-
thiah Sherman, deacon of the First Church from
1734 to his decease, 1755.
John, jr., succeeded to the paternal home. He
was drowned, 1699, leaving no children. The
homestead was next transferred to John, eldest son
of his brother Samuel, who m. Lydia Waterman,
1714. They had Zeruiah, 1714, m. James Bradford
and removed to Plainfield, Conn, j Ann, b. 1717, d.
early ; Anthony, b. 1719, m. Abigail Alden ; John,
b. 1724 ; Sarah, b. 1726, m. Jeremiah Kinsman and
removed to Connecticut ; and Kezia, b. 1730, d.
1751.
John, son of John and Lydia Waterman Thomas,
m. Hannah, dau. of Nathaniel Thomas, Esq., of
6
62 MEMORIALS OF MARSHFIELD.
Plymouth, a woman of intelligence and accomplish-
ments, who lived to an advanced age, dying 1819,
universally respected. He was a physician, having
studied medicine with Dr. Tufts, of Medford, and
commenced the practice of his profession in his na-
tive place, Green Harbor. In a few years he removed
to Kingston, near Plymouth, where he practised suc-
cessfully, except when connected with the army,
until his decease.
In 1746 he accompanied a body of troops to An-
napolis Royal, as second surgeon. In 1755 he was
appointed surgeon's-mate, in Shirley's Regiment,
but soon left the medical staff and was appointed a
lieutenant. In 1759 he received a Colonel's com-
mission, and continued with the Provincial Army
until the capitulation of Montreal, where he com-
manded the Massachusetts and New Hampshire
troops.
The commencement of the American revolution
found Col. Thomas engaged in the practice of his
medical calling, at Kingston, amid domestic happi-
ness, professional distinction, and military fame. In
September, 1774, a Congress of the County of Ply-
mouth, was held at Plympton, and by adjournment,
at Plymouth. John Thomas, Esq., was one of the
delegates from Kingston, and Col. Anthony Thomas
and Capt. William Thomas were the delegates from
Marshfield. The resolutions then adopted were con-
sidered well suited to the critical state of the times.
In Provincial Congress, February, 1775, Col. Tho-
FAMILY SKETCHES. 63
mas was appointed one of the general officers of the
army.
Previous to the battle of Lexington, the said Con-
gress created the office of Lieutenant General, and
appointed him thereto. Soon after the Continental
Congress claimed the army at Cambridge as the army
of the United Colonies, and appointed general officers
to command the same. Thomas, by some precedence
in dates, was not appointed the first brigadier of the
army, to which command he was entitled, although
he was so called in the commission. Gen. Wash-
ington, in his first letter to Congress from Cambridge
Camp, dated July 10, 1775, regrets the steps which
had been taken in the appointment of general officers
in Massachusetts and Connecticut, and writes, "Gen.
Thomas is much esteemed, and most earnestly desired
to continue in the service. I must join the general
opinion, that he is an able and good officer, and his
resignation would be a public loss."
Washington, in a letter to Gen. Schuyler, says,
" The arrangement of the general officers in Massa-
chusetts and Connecticut has been very unpopular
and injudicious, and is returned to Congress for fur-
ther consideration, and has much retarded my plan
of discipline."
Congress passed a special resolve that Gen. Tho-
mas should have the precedence of all the brigadiers
in the army, in which decision the army and the
public fully acquiesced. But previous to the decision
of Congress, Thomas had withdrawn from his com-
64 MEMORIALS OF MARSHFIELD.
mand, at Roxbury, concluding that he could not, in
honor, serve in an army and be commanded by those
he had so recently in command. Efforts were made
in various quarters to retain him in the army, which
have no parallel in the military annals of this country
or Europe. The first letter of solicitation was from
James Warren, Speaker of the House of Represent-
atives, dated Watertown, 22 July. 1775 ; another,
under date of July 23, 1775, was from Gen. Lee,
said to be the first time in his life he ever conde-
scended to address any one in the language of en-
treaty. Under the same date is found a long letter
from Gen. Washington, soliciting, in the most forcible
language, his continuance in the army, from which
we make the following extracts.
After depicting eloquently the danger to his country
of his retiring from its service, he says : —
" I admit, sir, that your claims and services have not had due
respect ; worthy men of all nations and countries have had reason
to make the same complaint ; but they nobly stifled the dictates
of resentment and made their enemies ashamed of their injustice.
And can America show no such instances of magnanimity ? For
the sake of your bleeding- country, your devoted province, your
charter rights, and by the memory of those brave men who have
already fallen in this great cause, I conjure you to banish from
your mind every suggestion of anger and disappointment ; your
country will do ample justice to your merits ; they already do it
by the sorrow and regret expressed on the occasion, and the sac-
rifice you are called to make, will, in the judgment of every good
man and lover of his country, do you more honor than the most
distinguished victory. You possess the confidence and affection
of the troops of this province particularly. Before it is too late,
FAMILY SKETCHES. 65
I entreat, sir, you would weigh well the greatness of the stake,
and upon how much smaller circumstances the fate of empires
has depended. As to myself, sir, be assured I shall with pleasure
do all in my power to make your situation easy and honorable, and
that the sentiments here expres ed flow from a clear opinion that
your duty to your country, your posterity, and yourself, most ex-
plicitly require your continuance in the service.
The order and rank of the commissions is under the considera-
tion of the Continental Congress, whose determination will be re-
ceived in a few days ; but, at all events, I shall flatter myself that
the result will be your resolution to assist your country in this day
of distress. That you may reap the full reward which such a
conduct deserves, is the sincere wish of
Sir,
You very
Obedient and most humble servant,
GEORGE WASHINGTON.
" The Address of the Field Officers belonging to the Camp in
Roxbury.
To the Hon. John Thomas, Esq. :
Sir, — Your appointment as Lieutenant General by the Pro-
vincial Congress, in consequence of which you took the supreme
command in this camp, gave singular satisfaction to all acquainted
with your character, both on account of your inflexible attach-
ment to the liberties of your country, and your knowledge and
experience in military movements ; and to your vigilance, pru-
dence and skilful management is to be ascribed, in a great
measure, that order and regularity for which this camp has been
celebrated, and which are essentially requisite to the very being
of an army. To these important services you have the purest
incense to a great and good mind, the unfeigned thanks of the
officers and soldiers under your immediate command, as well as
of every friend to his country and the rights of mankind. We
6*
66 MEMORIALS OF MARSHFIELD.
are penetrated with the deepest concern that, by an unfortunate
concurrence of events, an arrangement is made which leads you
to think that you cannot continue in the army consistent with
those delicate and refined sentiments of honor which are pecu-
liarly characteristic of the soldier. We would not solicit you to
do anything- derogatory to your reputation, or the rank you have
formerly sustained ; but as no man has so much endeared himself
to the regiments which compose your brigade as yourself, we
earnestly request that you would assume the command of it;
that vast dignity and consequence of the cause we are contending
for, may be more than a counterpois to other considerations, of
what nature soever, that your country may still be advantaged by
your abilities ; and though mistakes are entailed to humanity, we
doubt not the gratitude and justice of your countrymen will
reward you in some degree adequate to your merit.
After all, we submit the matter to your Honor's decision, assur-
ing you that although we shall part with you with regret, yet we
will demean ourselves as becomes the soldier.
In behalf of the within mentioned officers,
THEO. COTTON, President.
Roxbury, July 25th, 1775."
John Thomas being an honest man, an ardent
patriot, and good officer, these petitions prevailed,
and he again resumed the command of the camp at
Roxbury. In the battle of Bunker Hill, in June,
Thomas took no direct part, although his post at
Roxbury was cannonaded during the whole day of
the battle, and the original plan of the British was
to approach his command and take Dorchester
Heights. From this time to March, 1776, Gen.
Thomas commanded the most exposed camp of the
besieging army at Roxbury, and by constant vigi-
FAMILY SKETCHES. 67
lance preserved it from insult and injury. Among
his troops, composed of undisciplined countrymen,
he was the first to introduce order and regularity
without severity.
On Monday, the 4th of March, in the evening,
Gen. Thomas took possession of Dorchester Heights,
the incredible labor performed on the following
night under his care and direction.
The evacuation of Boston by the British can all
be found already written on the pages of our coun-
try's history ; thinking, however, it may be accepta-
ble to the reader, we will transcribe a letter written
to his wife at this period : —
Dear Mrs. Thomas: —
We have for some time been preparing to take possession of
Dorchester Point. On last Monday night, about 7 o'clock, I
marched with about three thousand picked men, beside three
hundred and sixty ox-teams and some pieces of artillery. Two
companies of the train of teams were laden with materials for our
works. About 8 o'clock we ascended the high hills, and by day-
light got two hills defensible.
About sunrise, the enemy and others in Boston appeared nu-
merous on the tops of the houses and on the wharves, viewing us
with astonishment, for our appearance was unexpected to them.
The cannonading which had been kept up all night from our
lines at Lamb's Dam, and from the enemy's lines likewise, at
Lechmere's Point, now ceased from these quarters, and the enemy
turned their fire towards us on the hills, but they soon found it
was to little effect.
About 10 o'clock we discovered large bodies of troops embark-
ing in boats with their artillery, which made a formidable appear-
ance. After some time they were put on board transports, and
68 MEMORIALS OF MARSHFIELD.
several of the ships came down near the castle, as we supposed
with a design to land on our shore. Our people appeared in
spirits to receive them. We were now in a good posture of de-
fence, and had two thousand men added to our number. The
enemy viewed us critically, and remained in that situation that
night. The next day they came to sail, and returned to town and
landed their troops. On Friday, about 2 o'clock, P. M., they
sent a flag of truce, with a paper, a copy of which I enclose.
I have had but very little sleep or rest this week, being closely
employed night and day. But now I think we are well secured.
I write in haste, thinking you may be anxious to hear, as there is
much firing this way. We lost but two men killed in all this affair.
How things are in Boston, or what loss they have sustained from
our shot and shells, at present we are not informed ; but I am
sensible we distressed them much, from appearances. I have
wrote yon enclosed by the same hand, and am in haste,
JNO. THOMAS.
Dorchester Hills, in a small hut, March 9, 1776.
Your son John is well and in high spirits. He ran away from
Oakely privately ; on Tuesday morning got by the sentries and
came to me on Dorchester Hills, where he has been most of the
time since.
The disobedient son John, left on Monday even-
ing at Roxbury, in charge of his colored servant
Oakely, was the late Col. Thomas of Kingston, and
was then but ten years of age, and fearless by the
side of George Washington and John Thomas did
he stand in those days of danger.
Gen. Thomas, while in his proud command at
Dorchester, was promoted and appointed by Congress
to a more important station, viz., Major General of
the troops led into Canada by Montgomery and
FAMILY SKETCHES. 69
Arnold. A letter from Congress, written by John
Adams, to him, under date of March 7th, 1776,
says : —
" The delegates from your native province were much embar-
rassed between a desire to have you promoted and placed in so
honorable a command on the one hand, and a reluctance of losing
your services at Roxbury or Cambridge on the other. But all
agree you ought to be placed where you could do the most service,
and Canada was thought by some the most important post in
America."
After the British army had left his native province,
Gen. Thomas took his departure for Canada. With
great exertion, and worn down with the fatigues of
a long march through an unsettled country, he
reached the camp on the 1st of May. The army
then consisted of but two thousand, and the small
pox was raging in their midst, medicines and neces-
saries for the sick were wanting, and not more than
nine hundred men were fit for service. He was
well aware an attack from the British might be
expected, and on the 5th he called a council of war,
who determined they were not in a condition to risk
an assault, and that the sick should be removed to
Three Rivers. On the 8th he wrote the intelligence
to Gen. Washington of his having raised the siege
of Quebec and commenced his retreat.
They proceeded to De Chambeau, where another
council of war was held, when it was agreed to
retreat to the mouth of the river Sorel. While here,
anxiously awaiting reinforcements, he was attacked
70 MEMORIALS OF MARSHFIELD.
by small pox, of which he deceased, 2 June, 1776.
In his professional life he had been familiar and
successful with the disorder, yet had never taken it
by inoculation or otherwise.
His perfect collection and soundness of mind, to
the close of his last sickness, was noticed by all his
attendants, among which was the late Judge Joshua
Thomas, of Plymouth, then one of his aids. In
his person he was six feet high, erect and well pro-
portioned, and in appearance was commanding. In
his manners affable and of unaffected sincerity. He
never lessened his character or martial fame by
arrogance or ostentation. Granting to all the ap-
plause due to their merit, he enjoyed that due to
himself with universal assent.
The remains of this beloved son of Green Harbor
and of Liberty are resting on the frontiers of our
country in an unrecorded grave.
" He, midst the forests of our land,
By a dark stream was laid ;
The Indian knew his place of rest,
Far in the cedar shade.' 7
Mrs. Hemans.
Thomaston, Me., incorporated 1777, was named
in honor of Gen. John Thomas.
John Thomas, Esq., of Irvington, N. Y., is grand-
son of Gen. Thomas, from whom, in pamphlet form,
the materials for this memoir were received.
John Thomas, sen., was, it is supposed, from
Wales.
FAMILY SKETCHES. 71
SAMPSON.
Paul Sampson, a descendant of the Mayflower
Pilgrims, Henry Sampson and Miles Standish re-
moved from Duxbury to Marshfield about the middle
of the last century. He had Sylvia, Olive, Caleb,
Luther, Chandler, b. 1768, Calvin, b. 1770, Proc-
tor, 1772, and Martin, 1776.
Luther removed to Readfield, Maine, where he
founded the Wesleyan Seminary at Kent's Hill.
This locality was first settled by three young men
from Marshfield, viz. : Nathaniel Ford, Nathaniel
Thomas, and Nathaniel Kent ; this last named soon
deceased, and this far known place was named in
respect to his memory.
SOMERS.
John Somers lived on the farm west from the par-
sonage. His wife was Elizabeth. They had Eliz-
abeth, b. 1686 ; John, b. 1688 ; Mary, b. 1691 ; and
Nathan, 1693. This family removed to Rochester,
Mass. Dea. Israel Thomas was the succeeding
owner of this estate, in whose family it remained
for three successive generations. It is now the
country residence of John T. Dingley. Esq., of Bos-
ton. The house standing thereon was erected by
Dea. Israel Thomas, enlarged by his son, Dea. Nehe-
miah, a man of sterling worth in the township, who
rendered invaluable service in the American revolu-
72 MEMORIALS OF MARSHFIELD.
tion, as a counsellor, committee man, &c. He was
a member of the Provincial Congress which met at
Salem and at Concord, Oct. 1774, to ascertain what
would be the most wise and prudent measures to be
taken at this alarming crisis of their affairs. In 1775
he was a delegate to the Assembly held at Water-
town, and in 1776 he is again chosen to the Great
and General Court, held in the meeting-house at that
place.
While absent, on one of these occasions, the whigs
of the vicinity, in the ardor of their patriotism, took
from his house, contrary to his intention, a quantity
of tea, which had been seized by them and deposited
there. This was burnt on a rock, near the meeting-
house, with much eclat. This was known after-
wards as Tea Rock. Dea. Thomas passed to his
reward precisely six months prior to the signing of
the preliminaries of peace. The following inscrip-
tion is from his memorial stone : —
In Memory of Nehemiah Thomas, Esq. He Died
May 30th, 1782, in y e 70 th year of his Age, who
Sustained the Office of a Deacon in the First Church
of Christ in Marshfield, upwards of 30 years.
Here sleeps his dust beneath these speaking stones,
In whom each grace, each lovely virtue shone,
Remembrance weeps, our Zion drops a tear,
And sacred Friendship standeth Mourning here.
Dea. Thomas was town clerk from 1751 to his
decease. He executed most of the legal documents
FAMILY SKETCHES. 73
needed in the township during that period. To
farming he added the occupation of a tanner, and his
account books show that his business was measurably
suspended during the revolutionary struggle.
North of the Dea. Thomas farm is another ancient
dwelling house, erected by Nathan Thomas, sen., a
tanner. His wives were Alice Baker, Abiah Snow,
and Sarah, dau. of " the pious Dea. Foster, of Ply-
mouth." His son William succeeded to the home-
stead. His wives were, Mary Hill, of Maiden, and
Abiah Thomas, of Duxbury. He held a captain's
commission under Gov. Hutchinson, given at Boston,
1772, twelfth year of the reign of George the Third,
probably the last military commission given under
the Provincial Government to the citizens of Green
Harbor. He fired the three signal guns from a high
hill, which were to inform the citizens of the com-
mencement of hostilities, the morning after the
battle of Lexington, a messenger having ridden all
night to bring the intelligence.
FOORD, FORD.
Widow Ford, with her children, arrived in the
Colony, in the Fortune, 1621. William Ford, early
of Marshfield, was probably her son. His wife, was
Anna ; the garden of Nathaniel Sprague identifies
their homelot ; he d. 1676, aged 72; his wife, 1684.
They had William, Michael, Margaret, and Melli-
cent. William m. Sarah Dingley, 1658. They had
7
74 MEMORIALS OF MARSHFIELD.
John, b. 1659 ; Mercy, b. 1662 ; and Josiah, b. 1664.
He d. 1721, aged 88; the first interment in Cedar
Grove Cemetery. His grave marks the site of the
deacon's seat which he occupied in an early meeting-
house ; his widow d. 1727, aged 78.
Michael, son of William, sen., m. Abigail Snow,
1667. Had Lydia, b. 1668 ; Hannah, b. 1670 ; Wil-
liam, b. 1672 ; James, b. 1675 ; Abigail, b. 1677,
and Patience, b. 1682. The mother d. 1682. He
m. secondly, Bethiah, dau. of Walter Hatch, 1683 ;
they had twelve children from that date to 1700.
Elisha, the youngest, m. Elizabeth Oakman ; their
son, Elisha, m. Elizabeth Tilden, who were grand-
parents of the well known commissioner of Plymouth
County, John Ford, Esq.
BAKER.
Samuel Baker, son, probably, of the Rev. Nicholas
Baker of Hingham, settled near Skirgo. He m.
Ellen, dau. of Kenelm Winslow, 1656, who d. 1676.
They had Kenelm, b. 1657 ; Lydia, b. 1659 ; Eliza-
beth, b. 1661; Mary, b. 1667. Samuel Baker, m.,
secondly, Patience Simmons ; Eleanor, Samuel, and
Josias.
Kenelm Baker, jr., m. Sarah, dau. of Dep. Gov.
Bradford. They had Sarah, b. 1688 ; Alice, b. 1690
Eleanor, b. 1692 ; Abigail, b. 1693 ; Kenelm, b. 1695
Bethiah, b. 1699 ; Kezia, b. 1701 ; Samuel, b. 1702
William and Edward, b. 1705. The two last settled
in Boston and left families.
FAMILY SKETCHES. 75
WILLIAMSON.
In 1621, Master Williamson. Capt. Standish, and
Edward Winslow, made a journey to make a treaty
with Massasoit. He is called Master George, mean-
ing, probably, Master George Williamson. Timothy,
perhaps his son, a freeman of Plymouth Colony,
1646-7, settled in Marshfield, 1649. He m. Mary,
dau. of Arthur Howland, sen. They had Mary, b.
1654; Timothy, b. 1655, d. 1687; Joanna, b. 1657;
Experience, Martha, Abigail, George, and Nathan.
Timothy Williamson, sen., d. in Philip's War, 1676.
Mary, the widow, m. Robert Stanford, 1679, and d.
1690.
Nathan succeeded to the paternal home, and m.
Mary, dau. of secretary Sprague. George settled in
Middleboro' ; his son, Caleb, removed to Canterbury,
Conn. ; his son, George, m. Mary Foster. The late
Hon. William D. Williamson, historian of Maine,
was their son.
HOWLAND.
Arthur Howland, sen., m. the widow Margaret
Read. He d. 1675 ; his widow, 1683. They had
Arthur, Deborah, who m. John Smith, jr., of Ply-
mouth ; Mary, m. T. Williamson ; Martha, m. John
Damon ; and Elizabeth, who m. John Low.
Arthur Howland, jr., was fined £5, in 1660, for
proposing marriage to a daughter of Gov. Prince,
76 MEMORIALS OF MARSHFIELD.
without her parent's consent. He promised to omit
farther proposals, but it is written on the records of
the past, that Arthur Howland, jr., and Elizabeth
Prince, were m. 9 Dec , 1671. They had Ebenezer,
Thomas, Abraham and Prince. This family em-
braced Friends' principles.
FOSTER.
Thomas Foster, of Weymouth, had Thomas, b.
1640, a physician at Cambridge ; he d. 1679, aged 39-;
and John, b. 1642, an ordained deacon of the First
Church, at Marshfield. He m. Mary, dau. of Mr.
Chilling worth, and settled on her inheritance on
South River. He d. 1731, and she having d. 1702 ;
his second wife, Sarah, d. the same year with him-
self. Their children were, Elizabeth, b. 1664, m.
William Carver ; John, b. 1666, married Hannah
Stetson, he was the senior Dea. Foster of Plymouth ;
Josiah, b. 1669, m. Sarah Sherman, removed to
Pembroke ; Mary, b. 1671, m. John Hatch of Scituate ;
Joseph removed to Sandwich, d. 1750 ; Sarah, d.
1702 ; Chillingworth removed to Harwich ; James
b. and d. 1683 ; and Thomas, b. 1686, who inherited
the homestead. He m. Faith, [Oakman,] widow of
Benjamin White. They had Thomas, 1735, and
Deborah, 1736, who m. Anthony Waterman, 1760.
They both deceased 1758, and their son Thomas
alienated the homestead to his cousin, Nathan Tho-
mas, and removed to Middieboro'.
FAMILY SKETCHES. 77
WALKER.
John Walker m. Lydia Read, step-daughter of
Arthur Howland, 1654. They had Lydia, b. 1665 ;
John, b. 1657, and Isaac ; John Walker, d. 1663.
The name is yet on the homestead.
LOW.
John Low m. Elizabeth Howland. Had Arthur,
b. 1665, and Hannah, 1670. John Low was killed
at Rehoboth, in Philip's war, 1676. Arthur Low
m. Elizabeth Crooker, 1714. They had Hannah, b.
1717, m. William Winslow, of Middleboro', 1742;
Elizabeth, b. 1720; and Jeremiah, b. 1735, m.
Sarah Thomas, 1757.
CHILLINGSWORTH OR CHILLINGWORTH.
Thomas Chillingworth was of Lynn, 1637, sub-
sequently of Sandwich, and permanently settled at
Marshfield near the time of its incorporation. He
was quite a prominent man in public matters, but
physically infirm, and d. 1652, probably in the me-
ridian of his years. He was a large landholder. He
had Sarah, who m. S. Sprague ; Mary, m. to Dea.
John Foster ; Mehetabel, to Justus Eames ; and
Elizabeth, who d. 1655. Joane, his widow, m.
Thomas Dogget, 1654, d. 1684. The bible of Mr.
7 #
<B MEMORIALS OF MARSHFIELD.
Chillingworth is in preservation, printed by Christo-
pher Barker, 1589.
SPRAGUE.
Samuel Sprague a townsman of Marshfield, 1666,
was son of William Sprague, who came to Salem
with his brothers, Ralph and Richard, 1628-29.
These brothers were sons of Edward Sprague of
Upway, Dorset Co., England, and were the founders,
with a few others, of Charlestown, Mass., the same
year they arrived. In 1636 William removed to
Hingham with his father-in-law, Anthony Eames.
In 1650 Eames removed to Marshfield, and his
grandson, Samuel Sprague, followed him. He m.
about 1665-6, Sarah, dau. of Mr. Thomas Chilling-
worth, and settled on her paternal inheritance. He
was the fourth and last secretary of the Colony, from
1686 to 1692. He deceased, 1710, and his widow
after 1725. They had eight children, viz. : Samuel,
who m. Bethiah Thomas, lived in Duxbury. The
late Hon. Seth Sprague, father of the Hon. Peleg
Sprague, of Boston, was their grandson. John lived
in Duxbury, also. Nathan and James remained in
Marshfield. In 1727-8, James, who inherited the
homelot of the ancestor, alienated it to Nathan, and
purchased a part of the Baker estate, near Mt. Skirgo.
In the deed thereof given by Samuel Baker, the
second, it is called three-fourths of the homestead,
that was the estate of his father, Samuel Baker, sen.
FAMILY SKETCHES. 79
On this estate is now standing a dwelling-house of
the Pilgrim times. It is owned by an aged and
venerable matron, Mrs. Nellie Spragne, daughter-in-
law of James, jr., son of James Sprague the pur-
chaser. Her father-in-law, with whom she lived
under this roof some years, was ten years of age
when he removed with his parents thither, one hundred
and twenty-seven years since. He ever stated to
her it was then called a very old house. It conse-
quently, from comparison of deeds, &c, must be the
dwelling-house, with orchards, fields, &c, which
Resolved White exchanged, 1672, with Samuel
Baker, for his, "situated adjoining over against Skirgo."
This ancient dwelling has been, in succession, the
residence of Resolved and Judith [Vassall] White,
and Samuel and Ellen [Winslow] Baker.
With these memorials of its age, it is no stretch of
the fancy to picture to the eye of the mind, the
Pilgrim mothers, Susanna [White] Winslow, and her
sister-in-law, Ellen [Newton] Winslow, sitting in
Mayflower chairs by these capacious firesides, con-
versing of trans-atlantic times, with the daughter of
the wealthy Vassall. While gathering around stand
the grandchildren of these memorable mothers, list-
ening with astonishment to the tales they are telling
of the beautiful homes they had left for religious
freedom beyond the breaking waves of the broad
Atlantic.
80 MEMORIALS OF MARSHFIELD.
HALL.
Adam Hall, who came to Marshfield early in the
last century, was of trans-atlantic birth. He m. Sa-
rah Sherman, 1725, a grandaughter of Peregrine
White, and settled in the vicinity of his residence.
Their children were, William, b. 1726 ; Thomas, b.
1728 ; Adam, b. 1729 ; Joseph, b. 1733 ; Sarah, b.
1735 ; Mercy, b. 1739 ; and Levi, b. 1744, who re-
moved to Rhode Island. Sarah, wife of Adam Hall,
d. 1768, aged 68.
Adam Hall, jr., m. Kezia, dau. of Samuel and
Sarah [Rogers] Ford, 1752. They had Adam, b.
1757 ; Mercy, b. 1759, m. Andrew Keen and Pere-
grine White; Susanna, b. 1761, d. 1834, unmarried;
Kezia, b. 1764, m. Proctor Sampson ; Luke, b. 1767;
Samuel, b. 1770 ; and William, b. 1774.
Adam Hall, jr., was a mariner, and commanded
the packet sloop Dolphin, of North River. He d.
1806, aged 77.
Luke, son of Adam and Kezia Hall, was a ship-
master. He m. Anna, dau. of Barnard and Experi-
ence [Taylor] Tuels, and had Luke, William and
Samuel, b. 1800, the celebrated shipbuilder of East
Boston. The following epitaph is copied from a
monumental stone, erected by him, to perpetuate the
memory of his parents, at Church Hill Cemetery,
Marshfield : —
81
FAMILY SKETCHES.
In Memory of
LUKE HALL,
Who died on Staten Island,
June 28, 1815,
Aet. 48 years.
MRS. ANNA, WIFE OF
Luke Hall,
Died at East Boston,
July 20, 1848,
Aet. 88 years.
STEVENS.
Edward Stevens, had Edward, William, Elizabeth,
and Patience, who m. John Phillips, 1710.
William, son of Edward Stevens, sen., m. Hannah,
and had Hannah, b. 1692, m. a Mr. Rider ; William,
b. 1694; Josiah, b. 1695, d. 1709; Lydia, b, 1697,
m. Ebenezer Cobb, of Kingston, who was 107 years
of age at his death in 1801 ; John, b. 1699, m. Eleanor
Jarman ; Abigail, b. 1702 ; Bethiah, b. 1703, m.
Caleb Oldham; Edward, b. 1706; Elizabeth, b.
1708-9; and Patience, b. 1712.
A number of families of this name are yet residing
on the ancient homestead of the ancestor.
DOGGET, DOGGETT.
" Thomas Dogget, in Concord, 1642, at which
date his wife died. He removed from thence."
A Thomas Dogget is early in Marshfield, who
settled on the estate granted, priorly, to Mr. Comfort
82
MEMORIALS OF MARSHFIELD.
Starr, near the junction of North and South Rivers,
now the farm of Capt. Samuel Clapp. He appears
to have had a family of children when he came to
Marshfield, viz. : John, Samuel, Sarah, who. m.
Samuel Sherman, and perhaps others. He married,
in Marshfield, 1654, Joane, the widow of Mr. Thomas
Chillingworth, and had Rebekah, b. 1655. Joane,
the wife. d. 1684: he d. 1692.
His son, Samuel, m. Mary Rogers, 1682. She
deceased, 1690, leaving children, Samuel, Mary, and
Sarah. He m., secondly, 1691, Bathsheba Holmes,
a grandaughter of the Rev. Samuel Arnold, and had
Elizabeth, Ebenezer, Bathsheba, John, and Isaac, all
baptised in the First Church, 27 Sept., 1702 ; and
Lodiah, Persis, Seth, and Abigail, subsequently.
The name has long been extinct at Green Harbor.
KEENE, KEIN, KEEN.
Martha Keene, aged 60 years, was a passenger,
1638, in the good ship Confidence, of London, John
Jobson, master, to New England. She was accom-
panied by John Keene, aged 17 ; Eliza, Martha,
Josias, and Sarah Keene, probably her children.
Josias settled near Thomas Doggett, in Marshfield ;
m. Hannah, dau. of John Dingley, sen. They had,
John, b. 1661 ; Josiah, Matthew, Hannah, and per-
haps others. Hannah m. Isaac Oldham, 1695.
Josias Keene and his wife Lydia had nine children
baptised in the First Church, Marshfield, by Mr.
Gardner, 24 Oct., 1704.
FAMILY SKETCHES. 83
SHEARMAN, SHERMAN.
William Sherman had a garden place, at Duxbury,
1637, and lands towards Green Harbor, 1640. He
early settled on the north side of the highlands, called
on early records White's Hill, near Peregrine White's.
He had John, b. 1646, William, and perhaps others.
William Sherman, jr., m. Desire Dotey, 1667.
They had, Hannah, b. 1668 ; Elizabeth, b. 1670, d.
1675; William, b. 1672 j Patience, b. 1674; and
Experience, b. 1678.
John, son of the senior William Sherman, was m.
at Boston, to Jane Hatch, dau. of Walter Hatch, of
Scituate, 1677.
PHILLIPS.
John Phillips, Duxbury, 1640. Came early to
Marshfield and settled on a tract of land lying near
the united outlet of North and South Rivers. He
had, by his first wife, William, John, and Jeremiah.
He m., secondly, Grace, widow of William Hollo-
way, 1654. They had, Joseph, b. 1655, killed at
the Rehoboth fight, 1676 ; and Benjamin, 1658.
John, the second son of John, sen., was killed by
lightning, at the house of Mr. Bulkely, 1654. His
second wife, Grace, and his third son, Jeremiah, were
killed, with their neighbor and guest, William Shurt-
leff, 23 June, 1666, and all interred on the 24th.
In 1667, Mr. Phillips m. Faith Dotey, widow of
the Mayflower Pilgrim, Edward. She deceased, 1667.
84 MEMORIALS OF MARSHFIELD.
He survived until 1691, having numbered nearly 90
years. A man of many sorrows.
Mrs. Grace Phillips had two daughters by her first
husband, William Holloway, Hannah and Grace,
who m. Josiah Read, 1666. He was one of the
thirty-five purchasers of Norwich, Conn.
SHETLE, SHIRTLEY, SHURTLEFF.
1634. William Shetle, an apprentice to Thomas
Clark, carpenter, of Plymouth. Circumstances lead
to the conclusion that he was from Yorkshire, Eng.
William Shirtley removed to Marshfield about 1660.
He resided near John Phillips, and is named with
the freemen of Marshfield, 1664. He m. Elizabeth,
dau. of Thomas and Ann Lettice, of Plymouth,
1655, early comers to New England. Mr. ShurtlerFs
dwelling-house was destroyed by fire early in the
year 1666. He, with his family, found an asylum
at the dwelling-house of Mr. John Phillips after this
calamity. He was killed by lightning, while so-
journing there r June 23d, 1666.
The circumstances connected with this melan-
choly occurrence are described in a letter written by
the Rev. Samuel Arnold, to the Rev. Increase Mather,
Boston.
" Suffering from a dreadful dearth, the neighboring
congregations, on the 20th of June, observed a day
of Fasting and Prayer, as they were wont on such
occasions. On the 23d they were visited by a terrific
FAMILY SKETCHES. 85
thunder storm ; during which the electric fluid struck
the house of Mr. Phillips, killing his wife and son,
with his neighbor, Mr. Shurtleff. Mr. Shurtleff left
two sons, William and Thomas, one of which was
in his arms, at this sad period, and remained unhurt.
A third, called Abiel, signifying, in Hebrew, "God
is my Father," was born shortly after his father's
decease. William Shurtleff is, probably, ancestor of
all bearing the name in New England. The distin-
guished antiquary, Nathaniel B. Shurtleff, M. D., of
Boston, is a descendant of William Shurtleff and his
son Abiel, to whose research I am indebted for a
part of this sketch.
LITTLE.
Thomas Little was in Plymouth after 1630, where
he m., 1633, Ann, one of the daus. of the Pilgrim
Richard Warren. He removed to Marshfield about
1650, settled in the easterly part of the township, a
locality since known as Littletown, in the surround-
ing region.
He had Thomas, killed by the Indians at the
Rehoboth fight, 1676; Samuel, who m. Sarah Grey;
Ephraim, who m. Mary Sturtevant, 1672; Isaac;
Hannah, who m. Stephen Tilden; Mercy, who m.
John Sawyer, 1666; Ruth, and Patience.
Thomas Little was probably a lawyer. He de-
ceased, 1671. Ephraim and Mary (Sturtevant) Little
had Ephraim, b. 1673, H. C. 1695, ordained as pas-
8
86 MEMORIALS OF MARSHFIELD.
tor of the Plymouth Church, 1699, and deceased,
1723, without children; Ruth, b. 1675, m. an Avery;
David, b. 1681, settled as a lawyer in Scituate; his
son Ephraim, H. C. 1728, was settled in the ministry
at Colchester, Conn.; John, b. 1683; Ann, who m.
Thomas Grey, and Mary, who m. an Otis.
Lieut. Isaac Little, son of the ancestor, purchased
the Biddle estate, (now owned by Mr. Waterman
Thomas,) on Marshfield Neck. He and his wife
Bethiah had Thomas, b. 1676, H. C. 1695, lawyer
and physician at Plymouth ; Isaac, b. 1677, removed
to Pembroke; Charles, b. 1685; Nathaniel, b. 1690,
died 1716; William, b. 1692, H. C. 1710. Lieut.
Little deceased, 1712.
John Little, Esq., son of Ephraim, m. Constant
Fobes of Little Compton, was a valuable and highly
useful citizen. They had eleven children, b. from
1708 to 1724. Their son Fobes, H. C. 1724, was a
physician at Little Compton. John, another son,
removed to Windham, and William to Lebanon,
Conn. Thomas, Ephraim and Lemuel remained on
the ancestral estate, where their descendants yet
reside. The late Capt. George Little and his brother
Capt. Luther Little, both of the U. S. naval service,
were grandsons of John Little, Esq. Edward P.
Little, late a representative to Congress, is a son of
the late Capt. George Little.
FAMILY SKETCHES. 87
JOHN JONES.
John Jones was a grandson of Thomas Little, sen.
He m. Eleanor, dau. of Nathaniel and Faith Wins-
low, 1697. Their children were, Patience, who m.
William Stevens; John, b. 1701, m. Grace Cushing ;
Faith, b. 1704, d. early; Ebenezer, b. 1706, m. Jane
King; Anna, b. 1708, m. Bezaleel Palmer; Eleanor,
b. 1710; Nathaniel, b. 1713, and Joseph, b. 1715.
CHAPMAN.
Ralph Chapman, aged 20, ship carpenter, from
South wark, England, was a passenger in the ship
Elizabeth of London, 1635. He m. Lydia Wills,
1642, the earliest marriage extant on the records of
Marshfield. They had Mary, b. 1643, m. William
Troop of Barnstable; Sarah, b. 1645, m. William
Norcutt of Marshfield; Isaac, b. 1647, m. Rebecca
Leonard, and lived at Barnstable, and R,alph.
Ralph Chapman, sen., lived at the Ferry, which
he kept, but was excused from the duty, 1645, ex-
cept on special occasions. His family became
Friends. His son Ralph removed to Newport, R. I.,
and his son John returned to the Old Colony. He
m., in Pembroke, Abigail Booth, 1630; and the
births of four sons and three daus. are found re-
corded on the books of the Friend's Society. The
daus. m. John, Wing, and Joseph Rogers, of the
family who early settled at Rogers' Hill, North
River.
88 MEMORIALS OF MARSHFIELD.
"John Chapman d. 3d. 1 m. 1811, and from the
most accurate accounts to be had, was 104 years,
2 months and some days old." — Friend Records.
WEBSTER.
The New England ancestor of the late Hon.
Daniel Webster was, it is believed, John Webster,
who came from Ipswich, Co. Suffolk, Eng., and
settled in Ipswich, N. E. ; freeman, 1635. His son
Thomas settled in Hampton, N. H. ; m., 2 Nov.,
1657, Sarah Brewer; d. 5 Jan., 1715, aged 83.
Their son Ebenezer, b. 1 Aug., 1667; served in the
Indian wars; settled in Kingston, 1700; m. Hannah
Judkins, 1709. Their son Ebenezer m., 20 July,
1738, Susanna Bachelder; whose son Ebenezer, b.
1739, settled in Salisbury, and was distinguished in
the old French and Revolutionary war. His second
wife was Abigail Eastman. Their son, the late
Hon. Daniel Webster, was b. 18 Jan., 1782; d., at
his residence in Marshfield, Mass., 22 minutes before
3 o'clock, Sabbath morning, Oct. 24th, 1852. He
m., 10 June, 1808, Grace, dau. of the Rev. Elijah
Fletcher of Hopkinton, who deceased 1828. His
second wife was Caroline, dau. of Herman Le Roy
of New York, who survives him.
Mr. Webster made his first purchase in Marshfield,
about 1830, of the late Capt. John Thomas, which
consisted of the present Webster mansion, since
enlarged and improved, and that portion of the
w
THE MARSHFIELD GRAVES. 89
landed estate of his father, Nathaniel Ray Thomas,
the royalist, which was reserved unconfiscated, at
the close of the Revolutionary war, as a dower for
the widow. This mansion house, in 1774-5, was
the quarters of a detachment of British troops, called
the Queen's Guards, commanded by Capt. Balfour,
which were unnecessarily stationed here by Gen.
Gage, at the request of the royalists of the vicinity.
Of these troops, called the flower of the British
army, five only were left with Capt. Balfour at the
close of the memorable battle of Bunker Hill.
Mr. Webster added subsequently to his first pur-
chase, acres unto acres, until his estate amounted to
fifteen hundred or more, including therein that por-
tion of Careswell on which the present old Winslow
mansion is now standing.
THE MARSHFIELD GRAVES
BY FRANCES MANWARING CAULKINS.
Why meet we here on this memorial hill ?
Where is the glory that here walks abroad ?
What gives to yonder ocean its deep thrill, —
To* earth this silent worship of its Lord ?
By sacred feet this hill-top has been prest ;
The angels keep these sepulchres in view.
Here pilgrims worshipped and here pilgrims rest,
Sons of the Old World, fathers of the New.
8*
90 MEMORIALS OF MARSHFIELD.
Here sleeps the bride, — first of these deserts drear,*
Ye daughters o'er the turf your garlands wave !
And White,f New England's first-born son, lies here,
Move slow, ye bands, around the patriarch's grave !
Here rest the Winslows, — names of old renown ;
Yon hawthorn bower the grave of Cushman shows :
And Webster, too, with tears we laid him down, —
Our Webster, 'mid his loved ones to repose.
These hills, these plains, are monumental ground ;
Yonder lies Pilgrim Rock and Plymouth Bay !
The Carvers', Bournes', and Dingleys' dwelt around ;
Sprague, Bulkley, Tompson, trod the shining way.
Descend, O dart of heaven, — Muriel's spear !
Unseal the doors of these grass-covered rooms,
And show the sons of pilgrims gathering here
The lights yet burning in their fathers' tombs :
These Mayflower lights, whose quickening rosy gleams,
So faint, at first, but growing like the morn,
Wide round the world now send their kindling beams
Of truth and freedom ushering in the dawn.
Take counsel of the fathers : this wild shore,
Their toil transfused into a flowery sod ;
For little as for much, they rendered more, —
Pains-taking people, — looking up to God.
■* Susanna Winslow. The first marriage, in New England was that of
Edward Winslow to Susanna, widow of William White.
t Peregrine White, born at Plymouth, in November, 1620 ; died at Marsh-
field, July 22, 1704.
THE MARSHFIELD GRAVES. 91
Children of faith, — they walked by future light ;
The glory not yet come, illumed their way ;
In truth's great conflict champions for the right, —
Tender yet stern they wrestled out their way.
Free worship and free thought, they claimed and found ;
Our larger golden freedom gathers rust ;
Too oft our banner stoops to kiss the ground ;
We have more sunlight, but 'tis flecked with dust.
Away with liberty that leaves man free,
Unlicensed on his fellow man to prey !
When law, truth, virtue, are trod down by thee,
O faithless freedom ! we disown thy sway.
Call up the tenants of these tombs :— They rise, —
They speak not, but they fill the air with peace ;
Deep counsels dwelling in their earnest eyes, —
They seem to say — Cease, warring factions, cease !
Land of our love ! Still may thy path ascend ;—
Fail not ;— fulfil the charter of thy birth ;
Freedom's great champion and Religion's friend !
Behold thy title, flowing round the earth.
Ye sons, think deep ;— be strong in heart and hand ;
Remember God, who with his silver key,
Unlocked the western gates, and gave this land,
To freedom's sons and all whom truth makes free.
Fast rush the future ages into light, —
Come, halcyon peace, on that broad ocean sail !
Long may the lamps in pilgrim tombs burn bright ;
Forever pilgrim principles prevail.
92 MEMORIALS OF MARSHFIELD.
BURYING HILL.
INSCRIPTIONS AND MEMORIALS OF INTERMENTS.
" They should not sleep forever
Unhonored in their graves,
Who braved for us the battle shower,
And walked the stormy waves.
Their dust is calling- from the ground,
With strong and steady cry;
For unlettered are their spots of rest,
And their names are passing by."
We have now introduced you, in our "rustic"
way, to homelots and households of your Pilgrim
ancestors, and are ready to retrace our mental wan-
derings with you to the " waste place of their
sepulchres." A little north of the present enclosure
stood the thatched-roofed temple, in which they
worshipped the Protecting Power which bore them
safely over the white-capped waves of yonder ocean.
And
" Here 'twas their will to sleep beneath the sod,
Which, when alive, their feet so often trod, —
To bend the grateful knee, and tune the lays
Of sweet devotion to their Maker's praise."
Parris.
Near the centre of the hill is the Winslow tomb,
supposed to have been constructed by Isaac Wins-
low, son of Gov. Josiah, whose remains were ex-
humed and deposited therein. There is no record
extant of all who have been laid therein; they
include the following, unnamed on the tombstone,
viz. : — Sarah, wife of Isaac Winslow, Esq. ; her dau.
Anna; Mary, wife of Gen. Winslow, and a Mrs.
INSCRIPTIONS ON BURYING HILL. 93
Oliver; Capt. James Gooch and his wife Mary, of
Boston; Elizabeth, wife of Dr. Winslow; Capt.
Thomas Dingley and wife.
In March, 1692, the ship Columbia, Capt. Chauncy,
of Portsmouth, was stranded on this coast, and nearly
all on board perished, among which were two young
gentlemen of the name of Hildreth, with a large
property on board, from Birmingham, Eng. Their
remains were entombed here. A silver cup, with
this inscription, was presented to Dr. Winslow, by
their friends : —
From
Richard Hildreth,
of Birmingham, Great Britain,
To Dr. Isaac Winslow.
A Token of Gratitude.
WINSLOW TOMB STONE.
The Hon ble JOSIAH WINSLOW GoiF of New Plymouth
Dyed December y e 18* 1680 jEtatis 52.
PENELOPE ye widdow of Gou r Winslow dyed December
y e 9, 1703, .Etatis 73.
The Hon bIe ISAAC WINSLOW, Esq', December ye 14 1708
JEtatis 67.
HON JOHN WINSLOW Esq'
died April 17 1774, AET 72.
ISAAC WINSLOW M. D.
died Oct r 24 1819 aged 80.
94
MEMORIALS OF MARSHFIELD.
JOHN WINSLOW Esq'
died at Natchez August 24 1852 aged 48.
PELHAM WINSLOW,
died August 19 1&13 aged 23.
Here Lyes Buried
the Body of
Capt NATHANIEL
WINSLOW who
Dec d Decem ber the
1" 1719 in the 81»t
year of his Age.
HERE LYES Y E
BODY OF M R
NATHANIEL WINS
LOW WHO DYED
MAY Y E 13 th
1736.
Here lyes Buried y e
Body of M rs Faith
Winslow wife to Capt
Nathaniel Winslow
Who Dec d Novem br 9 th
Anno Dom in 1729 in y«
85 th Year of her Age.
HERE LYES Y E BODY OF
LYDIA WINSLOW
WIFE TO NATHANIEL
WINSLOW AGED 44
YEARS DIED APRIL
1716.
HERE LYES BURIED THE BODY
OF NATH L WINSLOW SON OF
M E KENELM & M RS ABIGAIL
WINSLOW He was drowned in
North River MAY Y E 24 th 1734
AGED 25 YEARS 11 MO 8
Here lies Buried
the Body of
KENELM WINSLOW Esq
of MARSHFIELD
who departed this Life
June 10* 1757
Aged 82 Years.
Here Lyes Buried y e
Body of M rs Abigail
Winslow wife to M r
KENELM WINSLOW
who Dec d Aug st 15 th
Anno Dom* 1729 Aged 47
Years 7 Months & 15 Days.
INSCRIPTIONS ON BURYING HILL.
95
In Memory of
Kenelm Winslow Esq
who Died Aug Bt
y e 13 th 1780
In y e 63 rd year.
of his Age.
Here lies interred
Abigail Winslow —
Daughter of the Hon ble
Silvanus Bourne Esq
of Barnstable
and the wife of
Kenelm Winslow Esq
Born 21 June 1729
Died at Marshfield 21 Dec 1761
Aged 32 years and 6 months
HERE LYES
INTERRED Y E
BODY OF NATHAN 1 *
WINSLOW SON OF
M R JOHN WINSLOW
WHO DYED MARCH Y E
26 th 1723 AGED 10.
Eleanor Winslow
Daugh tr of
M r Kenelm & Mrs Abigail
Winslow Dec d April y e
12 1719 Aged
9 Months & 23 Days
HERE LYES BURIED
THE BODY OF
JOHN WINSLOW
SON OF M R JOHN
WINSLOW WHO DYED
AUGUST Y E 8 th 1724
AGED 18 YEARS.
HERE LYES
INTERRED Y E BODY
M R JOSEPH TAYLOR
WHO DYED SEPTE
MBER 13 th 1727
AGED 67 YEARS
96
MEMORIALS OF MARSHFIELD.
HERE LYES WHAT REMAINS
OF WILLIAM THOMAS ESQ
ONE OF THE FOUNDERS OF
NEW PLYMOUTH COLONY
WHO DEC D IN Y E MONTH
OF AUGUST 1651 ABOUT
yE 78 th YEAR OF
HIS AGE
HERE LYES THE
REMAINS OF
NATHANIEL THOMAS
GENT WHO DEC D
Y E 13 th DAY OF FEBRUARY
1674 ABOUT Y E 68 th YEAR
OF HIS AGE
HERE LYES INTERRED
Y E BODY OF WILLIAM
THOMAS GENT M
WHO DEC D MARCH Y E
30 th 1718
IN Y E 80 th YEAR
OF HIS AGE
HERE LYES INTERRED
Y E BODY OF Y E
HONORABLE NATHANIEL
THOMAS ESQ R WHO
DEC D OCT Y E 22 1718
IN Y E 75 th YEAR
OF HIS AGE.
DEBORAH
Y E WIFE OF
NATHANIEL THOMAS
ESQ DEC D JUNE Y E 17 TH
1696
IN Y E 53 rd YEAR
OF HER AGE
HERE LYES Y E BODY
OF MRS ELIZ H THOMAS,
WIFE OF
NATHANIEL THOMAS
FORMERLY WIFE TO
CAP T WIL M CONDY DEC D
1713 IN Y E 61 st
YEAR OF HER AGE.
INSCRIPTIONS ON BURYING HILL.
97
HERE LYES BURIED
Y E BODY OF MR 3
MARY THOMAS
WIFE TO M R
NATHANIEL THOMAS
ESQ R WHO DEC D
OCT Y E 7™ 1727
IN Y E 54 th YEAR OF
HER AGE
HERE LYES Y E BODY OF
M R SAMUEL THOMAS
AGED 65 YEARS
DECEASED SEPTEMBER
1720
HERE LYES Y E BODY
OF ALICE THOMAS
WIFE OF NATHAN
THOMAS AGED 25
YEARS DYED JUNE
Y E 14 1715
Here lyes y e Body of
M RS LYDIA THOMAS,
Wife to M' JOHN
THOMAS who Died
Jan r > y e 17 ,h 1750
Aged 60 Years
and 11 Months
9
HERE LYES INTER'D
THE BODY OF MR S
MARY THOMAS
WIFE TO JOHN
THOMAS ESQ
DIED MAY Y K 3 rd
17:37 IN THE
35 th YEAR OF HER
AGE
HERE LYES BURIED
Y E BODY OF
M RS MARCY THOMAS
Y E WIDOW OF
M R SAMUEL THOMAS
WHO DEC D SEPT 1741
AGED 79 YEARS
HERE LYES Y E BODY
OF ABIAH THOMAS,
WIFE OF NATHAN
THOMAS AGED 26
YEARS DEC D FEB RY
1 st 1717-18
Here lyes Buried
the Body of
M r JOHN THOMAS,
who departed this Life
April 14 th 1770
Ajred 86 Years & 5 Months.
98
MEMORIALS OF MARSHFIELD.
Memento Mori.
In Memory of
Col Anthony Thomas
who Died July y e 14 th
1781 Aged 62 Years
3 Months & 20 Days
John Thomas
Son of M r Anthony
& M rs Abigail
Thomas Dec d Nov r
11* 1748 Aged 5
Months & 5 Days
Here lyes y 9 Body of
Kezia Thomas Daug tr
of M^ John & M rs
Lydia Thomas who
Died Decem br 11 th 1751
Aged 21 Years 1
Month & 4 Days.
ANN THOMAS
DAU TO JOHN AND
LYDIA THOMAS,
DEC D THE 7 th DEC
1723 IN Y E 6 th YEAR
OF HER AGE.
In Memory of
Capt JOHN THOMAS
Born August 30 th 1764
Died July 27 1837
" For we know that if our earthly house of this
tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building
of God, an house not made with hands, eternal
in the heavens."— 2nd Cor. V, 1.
Erected
to the memory of
MRS LUCY THOMAS,
wife of
JOHN THOMAS
who died March, 13, 1849
Aged 78 years
My Mother
Sacred to the Memory
Mrs Lucy wife of
Capt John Thomas she
died August 30 th 1804
Aged 40 Years 11 Months
and 8 days
With love divine and pure delight
On faith's celestial wing
With sweet repose she took her flight
For death had lost its sting.
INSCRIPTIONS ON BURYING HILL. 99
Beneath this
rest the ashes of
NATHANIEL RAY THOMAS
Son of John and Lucy Thomas,
Born at Marshfield June 9 1812,
Died at Washing-ton D. C
March, 17, 1840
aged 27 years
"And ye now therefore have sorrow} but
I will see you again."
HERE LYES Y E ASHES
OF Y E REVEREND LEARNED
& PIOUS M E EDWARD TOMPSON
PASTOR OF Y E CHURCH OF
MARSHFIELD WHO SUDDENLY
DEPARTED THIS LIFE MARCH
Y E 16 Tn 1705
ANNO AETATIS SUEE 40
HERE IN A TYRANT'S HAND DOES CAPTIVE LYE
A RARE SYNOPSIS OF DIVINITY,
OLD PATRIARCHS, PROPHETS, GOSPEL BISHOPS MEET,
UNDER DEEP SILENCE IN THEIR WINDING SHEET ;
HERE REST AWHILE IN HOPES AND FULL INTENT,
WHEN THEIR KING CALLS, TO MEET IN PARLIAMENT.
HERE LYES INTERRED
THE BODY OF
MRS ELIZABETH PELHAM
WHO DEC D APRIL
Y E 1 st 1706
IN Y E 84 th YEAR
OF HER AGE
100 MEMORIALS OF MARSHFIELD.
HERE LYES Y E
BODY OF DEACON
JOHN FOSTER
WHO DYED JUNE
Y E 13 th 1732
AGED 91 YEARS
HERE LYES Y E
BODY OF M RS
SARAH FOSTER
WIFE TO DEACON
JOHN FOSTER
WHO DYED MAY Y E
26 th 1731 AGED 85 YEARS
HERE LYES
Y E BODY OF
M RS DEBORAH FOSTER
WHO DYED NOVEMBER
Y E 4 th 1732 IN Y E
42 nd YEAR OF HER AGE
HERE LYES BURIED
Y E BODY OF ISAAC
LITTLE ESQ R AGED
ABOUT 53 YEARS
DIED NOVEMBER
Y E 24 1699
HERE LYES Y E BODY
OF MRS BETHIAH LITTLE
WIFE TO ASQUIR ISAAC
LITTLE WHO DYED SEP
TEMBER 23 rd 1718
AGED — YEARS
MARCY LITTLE
THE DAUGHTER
OF CA PT AS QUIR ISAAC
LITTLE WHO
DYED JULY
1724
AGED 9 YEARS
INSCRIPTIONS ON BURYING HILL. 101
Thomas Bourn
Son of Thomas & Deborah
Bourn Dec d Sept 14 1723
aged 7 Years 3 Mo & 3 Days
Ebenezer Bourn
Son of Thomas & Deborah
Bourn Dec d Sept 20 1723
aged 3 Years 5 Mo & 16 Days
Deborah Bourn
Daug tr of Thomas & Deborah
Bourn Dec d Octo br 2 nd 1723
Aged 1 Year 9 mo &
15 Days
HERE LYES Y E BODY
OF M R JOSEPH
WATERMAN AGED
62 YEARS DYED
JANUARY THE
1 st 1711
HERE LYES BURIED
Y E BODY OF M RS SARAH
WATERMAN WIDOW
OF M B JOSEPH WATERMAN
WHO DEC D SEP T Y E 11 th 1741
AGED 90 YEARS &
3 MONTHS.
HERE LYES Y E BODY
JOSEPH WATERMAN
JUN R DIED DEC R
THE 23 rd 1715
IN THE 39 YEAR
OF HIS AGE.
9*
102
MEMORIALS OF MARSHFIELD.
HERE LYES Y E BODY
OF M R ANTHONY WATERMAN
WHO DYED APRIL Y E
1 st 1715
IN Y E 31 st YEAR
OF HIS AGE
JOSEPH SON
OF JOSEPH AND
SUSANNA WATERMAN
DIED MARCH 28
1715 IN Y E 3 YEAR
OF HIS AGE.
ERECTED,
in the memory of
THOMAS DINGLEY,
born May 22, 1761,
died Feb 21 1827.
and his wife
RUTH S WINSLOW
born Dec 17 1771
died Oct 20 1846.
This Stone is Erected
in Memory of
Deac n Thomas Dingley
who departed this life,
Sept 15 1806
Aged 74 Years
& 11 months.
He was Deacon of the first Church
in Marshfield 26 years to the
great satisfaction of the Church.
INSCRIPTIONS ON RURYING HILL.
103
This Stone is Erected
in Memory of
M r John Dingley
Son of Dea Thomas Dingley
& Mrs Anna his wife
who departed this life
Aug 10 1806
Aged 41 years
HERE LYES Y E
BODY OF
JOHN ROUSE SEN
AGED 74 YEARS
DIED OCT Y E
3 rd 1717
HERE LYES Y B
BODY OF
JOHN ROUSE
AGED 26 YEARS
DIED MAY Y E
26 th 1704
IN MEMORY OF
M RS MARY BOURN
WIFE TO MR
JEDEDIAH BOURN
WHO DECEASED
JUNE Y E 28 th
IN Y E 44 TH YEAR
OF HER AGE.
Here lies buried
Mr Jedediah Bourn
who Dec J Oct r
ye 18'" 1765
In y e 74 th Year
of his ao-e
In Memory of
M rs Lucy Delano
wife of
Mr Joseph Delano
who died Aug sl 24
1789 In the 53 rd year
of her Age.
In Memory of
Capt Rouse Bourne
who Dec d June
y e 29 th 1768 In
29 th year of
his age
In Memory of
Nathaniel son
of Dea Rouse &
Mrs Hannah Bourn
he died Sept 17
1810 aged 3 Months
& 14 Days.
104
MEMORIALS OF MARSHFIELD.
In memory of
Miss Lucy Bourn
who died
December 14 th 1788
Aged 19 years
11 months & 12 days
In Memory of
Mr DANIEL WRIGHT
who died May 6 1829
AET 76 yrs.
Mrs SARAH wife of
Mr DANIEL WRIGHT.
died March 16 1822
AET 65 yrs
Here Lyes Buried
the Body of M r
WINTER HEWET
Who Deceased March
the 3 rd 1717-18 in y e
39 lh Year of His Age.
Here Lyes Buried
the Body of M r
SOLOMON HEWET
Aged 45 Years & 10 Days
who Deceased December
the 5 th 1717.
MARY. S.
wife of
Thomas Hewett
died May 4 1838
aged 20 Y'rs
5 mo's & 21 ds
MARY S.
died Jan. 14, 1843
AE 2 y'rs 6 mo's & 21 d's
ELLA J
died Aug. 6, 1845
AE 6 mo's & 5 d's
INSCRIPTIONS ON BURYING HILL.
105
Emma
died Sept. 10, 1848
AE. 4 mo's & 5 d's
Children of
THOMAS & CRISSA
HEVVETT.
In memory of
Capt JOSEPH KENT
He Died Jan r ? 1^
1801 Aged 83 Years
& 10 Days
Thomas Kent
son of
M r Nathaniel Kent
& Mrs Abigail his wife
died Dec br 2 nd 1792
Aged 4 Years
4 months &
26 days
In Memory of
Mr s Lydia widow of
Capt Joseph Kent
who died April 9 th
1810 Aged 89 years
1 Month 2 days
In Memory of
Nathaniel son of
Cap 1 Nathaniel
& Mrs Abigail
Kent he died
Dec r 13 1806
Aged 15 days.
AMANDA GEORGE
Daughter of
Henry L & Ann L
Delano died
Oct 15 1851
AE 6 yrs and 6 mos
In Memory of
M r JOHN MOOREHEAD
who died
June 13, 1836
aged 76
John Moorehead
born Oct 8 1821
died Dec. 27 1847
Here the weary are at rest
106 MEMORIALS OF MARSHFIELD.
ARTHUR MOOREHEAD
died March 14 1840
M 10 mo 8 & 24 days
Not lost but gone before.
Mary Winslow
widow of
Seth Winslow
died March 23 1827
aged 49 years
ROBERT CUSHMAN'S TOMB.
Robert Cushman born February 11, 1758,
Died September 11, 1837.
Persis (Phillips) Cushman wife of R. Cushman
Died October 25, 1819, aged 59.
Betsey (Gray) wife of Joseph P. Cushman
Died July 26, 1826, aged 41
Elizabeth Gray Cushman died 1825
aged 1 year 8 months.
ANDREW BRADFORD
H. C. 1771 quarter master in the Army of the
Revolution, d. in Duxbury 1 Jan 1836 aged 90.
Mrs. Mary (Turner) Bradford wife of Andrew Bradford
died June 10 1825, aged 73.
INSCRIPTIONS ON BURYING HILL. 10<
DANIEL WEBSTER
Bora January 18 1782
Died October 24 1852
" Lord, I believe, help thou
mine unbelief."
Philosophical
argument, especially
that drawn from the vastness of
the Universe, in comparison with the
apparent insignificance of this globe has some-
times shaken my reason for the faith which is in me ;
but my heart has always assured and reassured me that the
Gospel of Jesus Christ must be a Divine Reality. The
Sermon on the Mount cannot be a mere human
production. This belief enters into the
very depth of my conscience.
The whole history of man
proves it.
GRACE FLETCHER
wife of Daniel Webster
Born, January 16, 1781
Died January 21, 1828
" Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they shall see God. 7 '"
JULIA WEBSTER
wife of
Samuel Appleton Appleton
Born January 16 1818
Died April 28 1848
Let me go, for the day breaketh.
MARY CONSTANCE APPLETON
Born Feb. 7, 1848
Died March 15, 1849.
108 MEMORIALS OF MARSHFIELD.
MAJOR EDWARD WEBSTER,
Born July 20 1820,
Died at San Angel, in Mexico,
In the military service
of his country
Jan. 23, 1848.
A dearly beloved son and brother
CHARLES
Son of Daniel and
Grace Fletcher Webster
Born Dec. 31, 1821,
Died Dec. 19, 1824.
GRACE FLETCHER
Daughter of
FLETCHER and
CAROLINE S WEBSTER
Born at Detroit
Aug. 29, 1837
Died at Boston
Feb. 7, 1844.
HARRIETTE PAIGE
daughter of
Fletcher and
Caroline S. Webster,
Born Sept 6 1843.
Died March 2 1845.
I
LF.Je?9